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 THIRD BOOKE OF THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF EVAGRIVS SCHOLASTICVS. (Book 3)

CAP. I.

Howe Zeno the Emperour gouerned and liued.

WHen Zeno after the deceasse of his sonne had attayned vnto the Emperiall scepter, as if he were certainely perswaded, he could not enioy y^• Empire of the wholl world* 1.1 vnlesse w^t outrage and riott he yelded him selfe vnto all fleshly pleasure whatsoeuer, gaue him selfe at y^• beginning so much vnto sensuality that he left no filthy or shame∣full act, no haynous offence vnpractised, but so wallowed in them that he thoughte it the parte of a base and abiect minde to commit them in the darke & in secret: but to doe them openly

in the face of y^• whollworld was a princely parte, & such an act as became only the Emperour. His disposition herein was both lewde and seruile, for the Emperour is not to be counted of thereafter as he gouerneth others, but as he ruleth and guydeth him selfe. It behoueth him to suffer no lasci∣uious* 1.2 motion to roote within his breste, but valiauntlye to encounter with intemperancy, and to make his life as a paterne of vertue, or a lanterne for his subiectes to followe after, thereby to leade them vnto godly instruction. But this man gaue himselfe ouer vnto voluptuousnesse and fell by a little and a little vnto suche shamefull seruitude, that he coulde by no meanes be with∣drawen from it: he chaunged oftentymes suche enormityes as maystred him no otherwise then vnthriftes and castawayes doe vse, whome infinite carnall delites doe leade captiue, tickle theyr mindes and sooth theyr senses, and that whiche is moste daungerous, vices be so linked together that one moste commonly followeth in the necke of an other. For fleshlye pleasure hauinge once takē place, obserueth no meane, endeth not in good time, but by occasiō of one an other is kindled, one flame of firy luste flasheth after an other, vntill that one hathe gotten either the gouernement of him selfe, and geuen vices the ouerthrowe and thenceforth become conquerour: or else is ouer∣come with the tyrannicall slauery of them, leade by them vnto the last gaspe, and in the end plun∣geth like a wretch into the deepe pitt of hell.

CAP. II.

Howe the Barbarians inuaded both the East and west contreyes.

ZEno in the beginning of his raigne leade such a life as I haue described before. His subiects throughout the East and West dominions were vexed out of measure, and sustayned greate losses: for the Barbarians called Scenitae destroyed all places & a great multitude of Hun∣ni called of olde Messagetae inuaded Thracia and passed ouer the riuer Danubius without lettor stay. Zeno. also was by force after a Barbarian sorte bereaued of the other partes which remained of the Empire.

CAP. III.

Howe Basiliscus the tyrant tooke armour agaynst Zeno and put the Emperour to flight.

THis Zeno, when Basiliscus the brother of Bernia made preparation to take armour agaynst him, was of so faynt a courage that he fledde away geuinge vnto Basiliscus the Emperiall honor and victorye without any trauell. He was so odious vnto his subiectes who by right detested his abhominable life: he had no stomacke at all, no shewe of a noble mynde, but all luskish and lither of a naughty condition the whiche his sensualitye declared bearinge rule ouer his cowarde minde and slouthfull disposition. Wherefore this Zeno together with Ariadne his wife whome he had with him, who also had fledde awaye from her mother (and if there were any other that bore him good will) gotte him into Isauria where he had bene broughte vp and there he was besieged. Thus Basiliscus came to be Emperoure of Rome, proclaymed his some Marcus, Caesar, and layde downe a platforme of gouernemente farre contrary both vnto the ma∣ner of Zenos raygne and such as were Emperours before him.

CAP. IIII.

Howe Basiliscus called Timotheus Aelurus Bishop of Alexandria home from exile and by his perswasion sent letters into euery Coast wherein he condemned the councell of Chalcedon.

THis Basiliscus (spoken of before) at the request of certaine citizēs of Alexandria that were sent vnto him, called Timothee home from exile where he had continewed eighteene yeres, Acacius then beinge Byshop of Constantinople. Timothe after his comming to Con∣stantinople perswaded Basiliscus to send letters vniuersally vnto all Priests throughout the Chur∣ches vnder heauen, and therein to accursed both the acts of the councell held at Chalcedon and the decree of Leo as toutchinge the fayth, the whiche letters were wrytten in this forme. The Em∣peroure Caesar Basiliscus, Pius, Victorious, triumphant, chiefe Lorde, perpetuall Augustus, and Marcus the moste noble Caesat, vnto Timothe the moste reuerende and moste holye

Archebishop of the noble city of Alexandria sendeth greetinge. The lawes and canons hitherto* 1.3 compiled in defense of the sincere and Apostolicke fayth, by the moste holye Emperoures our predecessors, who worshipped aright the blessed, eternall and liuinge trinity, seeinge they were godly decreed & haue euer bene foūd wholsom for the welth of the whollworld, we will neuer haue cancelled, nay rather our will is they should be published for our owne proper decrees. for we preferre piety and singular loue towards God & our Sauiour Iesus, who both made and ad∣uaunced vs to glory and renoune before all the care and trauell that is imployed in worldly af∣fayres, and we beleue verely that the fastening and knitting together of Christs flock in loue & charitie, is both a safety vnto vs our selues, and vnto all our subiectes, vnto our Empire a fun∣dation that can not be shaken and a wall that can not be battered and throwen downe, where∣fore being moued with the instinct of the holy spirit, we haue determined with our selues to of∣fer for a sacrifice vnto God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ the vniforme cōsent of the holy church as the first fruites of our raigne and Empire: and ordayned that the ground and bulwarke of the blessed life geuen vnto men, to wit, the Creede of the three hundred and eighteene holy fathers, of olde assembled together in the holy Ghoste at Nice (in the which faith bothe we and all our ancestors were baptized) shoulde onely be kept and retayned of the faythfull people through∣out all the most holy Churches of God: for in this one Creede the syncere fayth is so sufficiently decided both to the ouerthrowe of all erroneus opinions and to the establishing of concord & vnity throughout the holy Churches of God. And moreouer the canons published to the con∣firmation of the same faith, are of no lesse force & vertue. Againe we doe ratifie the faith of the hundred & fifty holy fathers, which assembled in this noble city of Constantinople & accursed the blasphemers of the holy Ghost. In like sorte we approue the acts of the councel called at E∣phesus against wicked Nestorius and such as afterwards embraced his opinion. As for such de∣crees* 1.4 as disturbe the quiet estate of the holy Churches of God & the peace of the wholl world, to wit, the decision and decree of Leo, all the canons of the councell helde at Chalcedon, what∣soeuer they desined toutching the exposition of the Creede, interpretation, doctrine and deci∣ding thereof, to the end a newefound faith might be established contrary to the Creede of the three hundred and eighteene Godly Bishops spoken of before, we ordayne and decree that the most holy Bishops both here & in euery the seuerall Churches wheresoeuer doe acurse them, & whersoeuer they are found that they be burned to ashes, for so the godly Emperours of famous memory Constantinus & Theodosius iunior who liued before our time commaunded as concer∣ning the hereticks bookes and blasphemous pamphlets. VVe will haue them so abolished that they be banished for euer out of the one & the onely Catholick, Apostolicke & faithfull church, as constitutions which derogate from the whollsome decrees of the three hundred & eighteene holy fathers whiche alwayes oughte to be of greate force and vertue, and from the canons esta∣blished in the holy Ghost of the godly Bishops at the councell of Ephesus. To be short that it be not lawefull either for Prieste or for people to transgresse that moste diuine canon of the holye creed, but that together with all the newe sanctions published in the councell of Chalcedō, the heresie also maye be rooted out, of suche as confesse not, that the onelye begotten sonne of God was cōceaued by the holy Ghost, borne of holy Mary the perpetuall virgine, and mother of God, truely incarnate and made man, but that his flesh came downe from heauen & so faine it very monstrously to be figurated in some phātasticall sorte or other: we will and commaund that euery erroneus opinion, at what time, in what sorte, or place soeuer throughout the wholl world hath bene either compassed, or thoughte vpon within, or expressed by worde without as plausible nouelty to the ouerthrowe of this holy Creed, be condemned for euer. And insomuch the Emperour is bounde of duety with diligent care to prouide that by his prouidente counsell the subiects, not only in time present, but also in time to come may enioy peace and tranquil∣lity: we doe ordayne that the most holye Bishops doe subscribe vnto these our gracious letters generally wrytten vnto all and openly proclaymed, to the end they may thereby manifestly de∣clare theyr settled mind in addicting them selues onely vnto the holy fayth of the three hundred and eighteene holy fathers, the which also the hundred & fifty Godly Bishops haue afterwards confirmed, and after that againe was ratified of the true professors and holy fathers vvhich mett at the princely citie of Ephesus. For it seemeth good vnto vs that the onely Creede of the three hundred and eighteene holy fathers as a perfect platforme of tried fayth shoulde be followed and by accursinge the actes of the Chalcedon councell which may be stumbling blockes vnto

the faithfull people, that they banishe them wholly the Churches, for canons that disturbe the wholl worlde and hinder the successe of our happy raygne. Such as after the receite of these our gracious letters, published as we perswade our selues by the prouidence of God, to the ende concorde, and vnitye, vvhich is to be desired of all men may be established in the Churches of God, doe at anytime goe about to alleadge, or name, by disputinge, teachinge or vvryting, in any tyme, forte, or place, that decree published in the councell of Chalcedon contrary to the fayth, as autors of tumultes, and dissention in the holy Churches of God and vnto all our louing subiects, & aduersaries moreouer vnto God & the safty of our scepter. we straictly charge & cō∣maūd & that according vnto the lawes made before our time by Theodosius the worthy Empe∣rour of happy memory against such frensie and madnes, presentlye annexed vnto these our gra∣cious letters, generally directed vnto all, if they be Bishops and of the clergye that they be de∣priued of theyr dignity & priesthood, if Monkes or lay men that they be exiled & punished with confiscatiō of their wholl substāce & other seuere penalties. For in so doing the holy, coessential Trinity autor and geuer of life vnto the wholl world beinge honored of vs, with such homage & seruice, not onely for the rootinge out of suche tares as we haue mentioned before, but also for the true and Apostolicke traditions toutchinge the holy creede established by vs, is like to be re∣conciled and fauorable vnto vs and vnto all our louinge subiects, to gouerne the Empire toge∣ther with vs, and to bring peace and quietnes vnto mankind,

CAP. V.

Howe many subscribed vnto the wicked letters of Basiliscus and condemned the councell of Chalcedon.

TImothee who was newely (as I sayde before) returned from exile as Zacharie Rhetor doth* 1.5 wryte subscribed vnto the aforesayde letters of Basiliscus vniuersally directed vnto all men. Euen so did Peter Byshop of Antioch syrnamed Cnapheus, who was at that tyme at Con∣stantinople together with Timothee. When these things were brought about in this sorte, Pau∣lus was chosen Archbishop of Ephesus. It is reported also that Anastasius the successor of Iuuena∣lis in the seae of Ierusalem subscribed vnto those generall letters of Basiliscus, and that many others to the number of fifty did no lesse, I meane abrogated the decrees of Leo and the councell of Chal∣cedon. Besides all this there is extante a supplication wrytten vnto Basiliscus by the Byshops of Asia whiche mette together at Ephesus, whereof we haue borowed some parte and layde it here downe in suche sorte as followeth. Vnto the moste holy and dearely beloued of Christ our puy∣sant* 1.6 Lords Basiliscus and Marcus perpetuall Augusti. After a fewe lines this is annexed. You haue signified most holy and Christian Emperours that you your selues together with the fayth which is bothe hated and diuersly assaulted, were impugned. Agayne a litle after. The terri∣ble and dreadfull expectation of the day of dome, the flame of Gods heuy wrath and your ma∣iesties highe displeasure apprehended the aduersaries immediatly, which arrogantly wente a∣bout to withstande almightye God & to assault your confirmed raygne: who moreouer doe not only not ceasse diuersly to aff••ct and molest our meane calling but continewally reuile vs, blase abroade false rumors and sclaunders of vs, to wit, that we subscribed vnto your gracious and Apostolicke letters generally wrytten vnto all not without compulsion and constraynt, where∣unto verely we haue subscribed vvith most willing and prompt mindes. And againe after a few lines. Take heede that in no wise ye laye downe any decrees contrarye vnto your former letters generally wrytten, perswadinge your selues for most certaine that in so doing the wholl worlde will be set on hurlyburly and the mischiefs which rose of the councell of Chalcedō (where there was greate slaughter and blooshed of true professors and innocente persons) in respecte of af∣terclapps shall seeme but trifles. Towardes the ende there was wrytten. VVe take our Sauiour Christ Iesus to witnesse, that the religion and seruice vve ovve vnto God is bothe free and vo∣luntarily: and we craue moste humbly of your maiesties that besides sundry others, specially the Bishop of Constantinople who is manifestly knowen to haue wickedlye behaued him selfe in* 1.7 his callinge may be condemned and deposed of his dignitye by the iuste, canonicall and Eccle∣siasticall censure. Besides all the aforesayde Zacharis wryteth in this sorte. VVhen the letters of the Emperour generally directed vnto all, were published abroade, the Monkes of Con∣stātinople being infected with the noysome sinke of Eutyches hereticall opiniō, supposing now

after the restoringe of Timothee and publishinge of the Emperours letters they had gotten that which they looked for, to the vpholdinge of theyr heresie and hopinge nowe they could bringe theyr purpose to passe: got them in all the haste vnto Timothee, and after Timothee (who proued that the worde of God accordinge vnto the flèsh was of one substance with vs, but accordinge vnto his diuinitye of one substance vvith the father) had confuted them, they vvente home a∣gaine like fooles.

CAP. VI.

Howe Timotheus Aelurus after he had recouered the Bishopricke of Alexandria rendered vnto the seae of Ephesus the Metropoliticke iurisdiction and accursed the councell of Chalcedon.

THe aforesayd Zacharie reporteth howe that Timothee left Constantinople and gott him to Ephesus and there restored Paulus (who was lately chosen by the Bishops of the prouince according vnto the canons of the Church, yet after deposed) vnto his former Bishopricke. The sayde Timothee moreouer restored the seae of Ephesus (as I sayd before) vnto her Metropo∣liticke iurisdiction that was taken away by the councell of Chalcedon. Thence he tooke shipping and came to Alexandria: there he requested of as many as came vnto him to accurse the councel of Chalcedon. There left him (as Zacharie wryteth) sundry of his owne crue, but specially Theodo∣tus one of them which forsooke Theodosius (who then was made Bishop of Ierusalem by certaine sedicious persons) at Ioppe and accompanied Iuuenalis to Constantinople.

CAP. VII.

Howe Basiliscus fearinge him selfe in the insurrection made by the Monkes through the perswasion of Acacius, called in his former letters.

AGaine the aforesayd autor wryteth howe Acacius Bishop of Constantinople canuased the matter about, raised both Monkes and people of Constantinople against Basiliscus as one that was an hereticke: made him denye he had wrytten his letters vniuersally vnto all men, and decree that such things as he had rashly and vnaduisedly published should be called in againe, and to haue also brought to passe that the same Emperour sent euery where vnto all men contrary letters wherein he approued the councell of Chalcedon. The same Zacharie shewinge himselfe very partiall throughout his history and led very much with affection, omitted the sayde contrary letters, they were wrytten as followeth.

The repelling letters of Basiliscus the Emperour.

THe Emperours Caesars, Basiliscus and Marcus. we charge and commaunde that the Apo∣stolicke* 2.1 and true faith from the beginning hitherto retayned in the Churche, continewed vnto this our present raigne & obserued ofvs this day be embraced for euer: in it we were baptized & we beleue that the same is only to be embraced firmly & vnuiolably, being embra∣ced to be continewed throughout all the Catholicke & Apostolicke Churches vnder heauen, & no other besides this to be longer sought for. VVherefore our will is that the letters generally wrytten duringe our raygne either vnto all men or otherwise howe soeuer, or vvhat beside this hathe bene published by vs, be henceforth cancelled and abolished: that Nestorius, Eutyches with all theyr complices and euery heresie be accursed: that no councell be called together nei∣ther any decree or reasoninge of the fayth, but that suche thinges as are already in that behalfe established remaine vnuiolable: that the prouinces whereunto the seae of this royall and no∣ble citie hathe the preferringe of Byshops be restored vnto the moste reuerend and moste holy Patriarch Acacius: and that the Bishops alredy placed throughout the prouinces continewe ne∣uerthelesse in theyr proper seaes, so that there may rise thereof after theyr desease no preiudice at all vnto the prerogatiue of the holye seae of Constantinople. Laste of all let no man doubte but that this our gracious decree is of force agreable vvith the vvill of God.

Thus were these thinges brought about.

CAP. VIII.

Howe Zeno the deposed Emperour recouered againe the royall scepter.

ZEno (as it is reported) seing in a vision the holy, valiaunt, and renowmed martyr Thecla, not onely prouoking, but also promising him to be restored againe vnto the Emperiall robes, led his army towardes Constantinople. And hauinge allured with giftes such as besieged him, he thrust Basiliscus (who had raygned two yeares) beside the scepter, tooke him out of the san∣ctuary he had fledd vnto, and deliuered him vnto the hand of the enemy. For which cause Zeno de∣dicated at Seleucia in Isauria a goodly temple gorgeously buylded vnto y^• renowmed martyr The∣cla, & bewtified it with many Princely monuments which were preserued vnto this our age. But as for Basiliscus he sent him away to suffer at Cappadocia, where together with wife and children he was put to death in an Inne called Acouson. Immediatly after, Zeno made a lawe where he ab∣rogated the decrees of Basiliscus the tyrant comprised in the letters he had generally wrytten vnto all men: banished Peter syrnamed Cnapheus out of Antioch and Paulus Bishop of Ephesus.

CAP. IX.

Howe after the deceasse of Basiliscus, the Bishops of Asia going about to pacisie Acacius who stomached them for condemning the councell of Chal∣cedon, sent vnto him theyr recantation.

THe Bishops of Asia to the ende they might auoyde the displeasure Acacius had conceaued against them, acknowledged theyr faultes and craued pardon: sent vnto him theyr recanta∣tiō and repentance. where they protested that they had subscribed not of theyr owne accord but by constraint and compulsion vnto the generall letters of Basiliscus, and confirmed with an oth that it was euen so and that they beleeued no otherwise then the coūcell of Chalcedon did beleue. The recantation was thus.

The Epistle or recantation sent by the Bishops of Asia vnto Acacius Bishop of Constantinople.

VNto Acacius the most holy and most religious Patriarch of Constantinople. After a fewe lines. VVe haue sente vnto you as it was very meete, one for to supplye our rowme. In a while after this againe. By these our letters we doe protest that not of our owne accord, but by compulsion we were brought to subscribe vnto Basiliscus letters: and that we haue geuē thereunto our consents not with hart, but only in word. For by the grace of almighty God who louingelye accepteth of our prayers we beleue no otherwise then we learned of the three hun∣dred and eighteene famous men, and lightes of the wholl worlde and besides them of the hun∣dred & fifty holy fathers. VVe hold moreouer with the holy acts decreed by the godly fathers at Chalcedon.

As for the report Zacharie Rhetor made of these bishops whether he sclaundered thē or whether they lyed thē selues that they had subscribed against their wills vnto Basiliscus letters, I am not able certenly to auoutch.

CAP. X.

VVhat Bishops there were of Antioch about that time.

AFter that Peter was banished the Church of Antioch, Stephā succeeded him in the Bishop∣ricke,* 3.1 whome the people of Antioch dispatched as Iohn Rhetor declareth with litle darts, much like sharpe speares. After his decease Calandio gouerned the seae, who perswaded as many as came vnto him to accurse both Timothee & the general letters Basiliscus had sent abrod vnto all Churches.

CAP. XI.

Howe the Emperour Zeno spared Timotheus Aelurus because of his gray heare: after this Aelurus death Petrus Moggus became Bishop of Alexandria, he was deposed & Timotheus Basilicus placed in his rowme.

ZEno although he purposed to banish Timothee, Alexandria, yet when it was told him that he was a very olde man and ready to lye in his graue, he altered his mind. Timothee not longe after finished the race of his mortall life & immediatly the Bishops of that prouince chose of theyr owne heade Peter syrnamed Moggus to theyr Bishop. Zeno hearinge this was very muche* 3.2 displeased, gaue forth commaundement that Peter should die the death, called home Timothee the successor of Proterius who then by reason of a certaine insurrection made of the people, led his life at Canabus. Thus Timothee by the Emperours cōmaundement recouered againe the bishoprick.

CAP. XII.

Of Iohn who crept to be Bishop of Alexandria after the death of Timothee, and howe the Emperour deposed him for periurie, preferringe Petrus Moggus to the rowme.

IOhn the Priest & Parson of Saynct Iohn Baptists the forerunner of our Sauiour, ••ame through some mens perswasion to Constantinople, made sute vnto the Emperour, that (if it fell out the Byshop of Alexandria departed this life in his tyme) he woulde geue him the nomina∣tinge of the nexte incumbent to succeede him in the Byshoprick. Zacharie reporteth that the Em∣perour charged him, he wente about to procure it vnto him selfe, but to cleare him selfe of this suspicion he sware and protested with solemne othes he woulde neuer be Byshop if it were offered him and so gotte him home. Wherefore the Emperour decreed that after the death of Timothee he should be Byshop whome both clergy and laytye would electe. Shortely after Timothee died, Iohn gaue a peece of money (as Zacharie doth wryte) neglected the othe he made vnto the Em∣perour, and was chosen Bishop of Alexandria. When this was knowen the Emperour banished him Alexandria, wrote by some mens procuremente an Epistle vnto the people of Alexandria, of vnitye and concorde, and commaunded that Peter shoulde be restored vnto the Byshopricke condicionally if he subscribed vnto the Epistle and receaued into the communion suche as helde with Proterius.

CAP. XIII.

Howe Petrus Moggus Bishop of Alexandria receaued the Epistle of Zeno and was reconciled vnto the faction of Proterius.

PErgamius Liuetenant of Aegypt tooke vpon him the orderinge of this matter according vnto the minde of Acacius Bishop of Constantinople: he arriued at Alexandria and there he was geuen to vnderstand that Iohn had fled away: he conferred with Peter: exhorted him to allowe of Zeno his Epistle wrytten vnto the people of Alexandria, and to receaue into the Church such as dissented from him. Whereupon Peter receaued the Epistle and subscribed vnto it: promised moreouer to admit his aduersaries into the communiō. After all this at a solemne meeting within Alexandria whē all the people embraced the Epistle of Zeno intitled of Concorde: Peter also was reconciled vnto the faction of Proterius, made a sermon vnto the people and read in the church the Epistle of Zeno which was an exhortation vnto peace and vnity.

CAP. XIIII.

The Epistle which Zeno wrote to reconcile the people of Alexandria.

ZEno Emperour Caesar, Pius, Victorious Triumphant, chiefe Lord, perpetual Augustus vnto the most reuerend bishops throughout Alexandria, Aegypt, Libya & Pentapolis with the Priests, Mōks & laye people, sendeth greeting. In somuch we are certenly perswaded that the originall cōfirmation, continewāce, strēgth & inuincible fortres of our Emperiall scepter is only vpheld by the sincere & true faith (the which three hūdred & eighteene holy fathers deli∣uered vnto vs by the inspiratiō of the holy Ghost in the councell of Nice, & was also confirmed of a hundred & fifty godly Bishops in the councel held at Cōstantinople) we haue labored day and nighte not onely by prayer but with all endeuer and vvyth publishinge of lawes, amply and aboundantly to sill vvith it the holy, Catholick, and Apostolick Church of God scattered far & vvide ouer the face of the earth, being the immortall and sempiternall parent of this our raygne and principalitye: that the deuoute people of God continewinge the diuine peace and quietnes

may poure vnto God the acceptable sacrifice of prayer, together with the most holy Bishops & sacred clergy, with the gouernours of Monasteries & Monkes them selues for the preseruatiō of our prosperous raygne. For in case that almighty God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ, who tooke flesh of the virgine Mary the mother of God & was borne into the worlde would allowe of the general praises & worship we geue vnto him & receaue the same with willīg minde & redines, then no doubt not onely all sorts of enemies woulde vtterly be foyled, but also all other nations vnder heauen would be brought subiect vnto our Empire, & willingly serue vs next & immedi¦atly after God: then also peace & the profit annexed therunto, seasonable tēperature of the aer, plenty of all sorts of fruite, with all other things required for the vse of mā would abūdantly be ministred. Nowe therfore seing it appeareth vnto all men howe both we our selues & the Em∣pire of Rome is preserued vnder the wing of the true faith; the holy gouernours of the monaste∣ries & heremits with other religious mē exhibited vnto vs supplicatiōs, exhortīg vs very earnestly that the most holy churches may enioy peace, that the mēbers may be coupled together whiche the deuel enemy to honesty hath labored of a lōg time to part asunder, for he is fully perswaded that if the body of the church being ioyntly knit together in the bond of vnity encountred with him, he would quickly be ouerthrowē. by reason the mēbers were seuered, it came to passe that infinit multituds of mē, now many hundred yeres ago departed this world, some without bap∣tisme, some other without the cōmunion being void of charity (the dynt of death is ineuitable) it caused moreouer infinit slaughters & bloodshed, not only the earth but the aer also was infe∣cted with streames of blood is huinge out of the tender bowells of men. And who is he (I pray you) that wisheth not for reformatō & redresse of these things? wherfore we haue done our in∣deuor for to certifie you, that not onely we our selues but all the churches euery where haue not had in times past, neither present, will not haue herafter, neither knowe any other that haue any other faith or doctrine, then the creede (spoken of before) deliuered by three hūdred & eighteen Byshops & confirmed afterwardes by a hundred & fifty fathers. But if any man haue any other creede we take him not to be of the church. For we beleue that through this faith only it cometh to passe that our Empire doth florish: that the people by embracīg of the same are inspired with the holy Ghost & washed in the sacred fountaine of baptisme: it was this faith that the holy fa∣thers in the councell of Ephesus subscribed vnto, which deposed wicked Nestorius of the Eccle∣siasticall ministery & as many as fauored his hereticall opinion whome we also doe accurse to∣gether with Eutyches (for both of them impugned the aforesayde faith) and approue the twelue pointes of the faith layde downe by Cyrill of worthy memorye, late Archbishop of the Catho∣licke church of Alexandria. For we confesse that the onely begotten sonne of God our Lord Ie∣sus Christ is truely incarnate, of one substance with the father accordinge vnto his diuinity, & of one substance with vs accordinge vnto his humanity: that he came downe from heauen: that by the holy Ghoste he tooke fleshe of the virgine Mary the mother of God: that he is one and not two. For we say that the miracles he wrought & the vexations he endured in the flesh belonged vnto one person. we doe condemne for euer such as deuide, or confound his natures, or say that he had a phantasticall body. For he was truely incarnate of the mother of God without spott or blemish of sinne. The Trinity remayneth neuerthelesse though one person of the Trinity, to wit, God the worde be incarnate. VVherfore seing we learne of surety that all the holy and Catho∣licke Churches euery where, that all the godly Presidentes and gouernours thereof, and that our Empire neither hath allowed neither will retayne any other creede or forme of faith, then that we spake of euen nowe, let vs ioyntly without any more a doe be reconciled and embrace vnity and concorde. These things haue we wrytten vnto you, not to innouate ought as toutching the faith, but fully to satisfie you therein. VVe doe accurse whosoeuer hath beleued or doth beleue the contrary, either nowe or at other times, either in the councell of Chalcedon, or in any other councell whatsoeuer▪ but specially of all others we doe accurse Nestorius, Eutyches and their cō∣plices. VVherefore hold with your Ghostly mother the Churche, and celebrate therein together with vs the one holy cōmunion according vnto that one fayth of the three hundred & eighteen holy fathers. For your most holy mother the Church groneth after you and desireth to embrace you which are her naturall children, moreouer she longeth to heare your sweete voyces. Get ye thither in all the hast. If ye doe this ye shal not onely purchase vnto your selues the fauour of our Lord & Sauiour Christ Iesus, but also the cōmendation of our highnes. This epistle being read, all the people of Alexandria returned vnto the Catholick and Apostolicke Church.

CAP. XV.

Howe Iohn the deposed Bishop of Alexandria gott him to Rome and procured Simplicius the Bishop of Romes letters in his behalfe vnto Zeno toutching the iniuries he had sustayned.

IOhn (of whome we spake before) tooke his heeles from Alexandria vnto olde Rome and raised there a wonderfull great sedition. For he made reporte that they deposed him of his bishoprick for maintaining the decrees of Leo and the councell of Chalcedon, and that there was an other placed in his rowme, which impugned the same. Simplicius Bishop of olde Rome hearing of this, was wonderfully moued, and wrote in his behalfe vnto the Emperour Zeno: but Zeno answered him againe, accused Iohn of periurie and that therefore and for no other crime he was deposed.

CAP. XVI.

Howe Calandio Bishop of Antioch was deposed for partaking with Ilus, Leo, and Pampreps: and howe the Bishops of Constantinople, Ierusalem, Antioch and Alexandria were reconciled one to the other.

CAlandio Bishop of Antioch wrote vnto Zeno the Emperour and vnto Acacius Bishop of Constantinople that Peter was not onely an adulterer but also had accursed the councel of Chalcedon at his beinge in Alexandria. Yet afterwardes this Calandio was banished into Oasis for holdinge with Ilus, Leo and Pampreps, against Zena. Peter sirnamed Cnapheus who was Bishop of Antioch before Calandio & Stephan, recouered his bishopricke againe, subscribed vnto Zenos Epistle of Concorde & wrote synodall letters vnto Peter Moggus Bishop of Alexandria. Acacius Bishop of Constantinople was afterwardes reconciled vnto this Peter, Martyrius like∣wise Bishop of Ierusalem wrote synodall letters vnto him. Yet afterwardes diuers withdrewe thē selues from Peters communion and therevpon it fell out that Peter openly accursed the councell of Chalcedon. Acacius Bishop of Constantinople hearing of this was very sory, wrote vnto diuers of his friends for to vnderstand the trueth: Peter be••nge desirous to satisfie them to the vttermost, wrot backe againe to purge him selfe that he had cōmitted no such act, yet some doe reporte y^• they knewe certainly that Peter wrote no such thing.

CAP. XVII.

Of the thinges which Peter Bishop of Alexandria wrote vnto Acacius who maintayned the councell of Chalcedon.

THe aforesayd Peter being a wauering person and a time seruer continewed not longe in one mind: but nowe accursed the councell of Chalcedon and anone recanted him of his folly ap∣prouing in all poynts the same councell. Wherefore he wrote vnto Acacius Bishop of Cō∣stantinople in manner as followeth. The most high God recōpence your holynes for your great* 3.3 trauell and carefulnes, who not only your selfe many yeares agoe haue kept the faith of the holy fathers but also confirmed the same by continewall preaching & publique sermons. For the cō∣firmation of which faith we see that the creede of the three hundred and eighteene holy fathers hath very well bene framed, in it we were baptized, in it we haue beleued, & nowe doe beleue: the whiche faith also was confirmed by a hundred and fiftye godlye Bishops in the councell of Constantinople. wherefore you leade all men cōtinewally as a guide: you bring the holy church of God into vnity: last of all you perswade vs with inuincible arguments that nothinge was de∣creed in the most holy & generall councell of Chalcedon preiudiciall vnto these canons of the fathers, but that such things as of old were established by the holy fathers in the councel of Ni∣ce, were confirmed in this councell with vniforme consent of all. we of our owne part seing we saw therein nothing innouated as toutching the faith, haue cōsented therūto of our own accord & beleued the same. Yet are we not ignorāt that there are certē mōkes which enuie at our bro∣therly* 3.4 loue & amity, which blase in your hearing sclaūderous reports that can not I am sure so easily displease your holynes: first of all howe we should translate into an other place the corps of the most holy and our most reuerend father Timothee the Archbishop, which (as they say) is neyther acceptable vnto God, neyther agreable vvith the lawes. Agayne they gette them vn∣to the seconde crime, the which as it is forged, so is it farre more haynous then the other. For howe can it be that we should accurse the councell of Chalcedon, seing we confirme the same

by our beliefe? your holinesse I am sure is not ignorant how both people and monks contende here with vs, who can first deuise any fonde noueltie, they determined to fall againe from the Church, together with certaine other lewd persons, and to draw the people after them. VVher∣fore beinge holpen with your prayers, we haue deuised these letters, as a salue for this mischief, which derogate nothing at all from the councell of Chalcedon, fully satisfyinge our selues that there was no noueltie established therein. This haue we done moreouer, partly for to perswade the simpler sort of men, & partly also for their sakes which remaine here with vs, that they may haue somewhat for them selues to stoppe the aduersaties mouth with all: and by imployinge in this behalfe our continuall trauell and industrye, we haue suppressed in short space the furi∣ous disposition of the people. I woulde haue your holinesse yet to learne one thinge more, howe the monks ceasse not at this houre to sowe tares among the wheate, how they linked vnto them* 3.5 certaine men whiche neuer liued in the monasteries as instruments of their wicked practises: howe they rogue about and spred false rumors, both against vs and the quiet state of Christes Churche: howe they suffer vs to doe nothinge decently as the canons of the holy and catho∣licke Churche of Christ doe require, but rather bringe to passe that the people will sooner con∣trole vs then be commaunded of vs, naye all their doinge is detestable in the sight of God and man. I hope your holinesse will signifie all the aforesayde vnto our most holy Lorde the Empe∣rour, and bringe to passe that his highnesse may decree in this behalfe suche thinges as may be for the Ecclesiasticall peace and tranquillitie, agreeable with the will of God, and the Empe∣rours industrie, to thend all men may conforme them selues thereafter.

CAP. XVIII.

How Iohn the deposed byshop of Alexandria counselled Felix byshop of Rome to depose Acacius byshop of Constantinople.

IOhn who fledde to Rome, after Zeno had deposed him, certified Felix the successor of Simplici∣us in the Byshopricke of Rome, of Peters doinges: exhorted him (as Zacharie writeth) to send Acacius a depriuation, because he had communicated with Peter, the whiche act of Felix being contrary to the canons of the Church Acacius would not approue. The messengers that brought this Epistle vnto Acacius were the paynefull and vigilant monks called Acoimetoi. Zacharie is the* 3.6 autor of the premises, who as farre as I can see, knewe nothinge of the whole circumstance per∣fectly, but hearde it onely as it were ouer the shoulder, and so reported it. Wherefore I my selfe will now write the stories as they were in deede. When Iohn had exhibited accusations and bills against Acacius vnto Felix, that contrary vnto the Canon of the Churche, he had communicated with Peter and of other haynous offences which he had done against the decrees of the Churche: Felix sent Ʋitalius and Misinus two byshops, vnto the Emperour Zeno, partly to confirme with his autoritie the councell of Chalcedon, partly also to depose Peter of his Byshoprick as an here∣ticke, and last of all to sende Acacius vnto him for to render an accompt, and to purge him selfe of such crimes as Iohn (of whom we made often mention before) layd to his charge.

CAP. XIX.

How Cyrill head of the vigilant monks sent vnto Felix byshop of Rome charging him with slacknesse in reuenging suche iniuries as the fayth sustained.

ERe the aforesayde Ʋitalius and Misinus came vnto the Emperour, Cyrill head of the vigilant monks, charged him with slacknesse of duety, seeinge so many grieuous practises take place against the true and sincere faith. Felix then wrote vnto Misinus that he shoulde doe nothinge afore he had conferred with Cyrill and learned of him what was to be done.

CAP. XX.

VVhat Felix wrote vnto Zeno the Emperour, and Zeno vnto him againe.

FElix wrote not onely vnto Zeno, but also vnto others, where he brought them into remem∣brance partly of the councell of Chalcedon, and partly also of the persecution in Aphrik in the raigne of Theodorichus. He wrote an other Epistle vnto Acacius, but Zeno wrote backe a∣gaine,

and tolde him that he fought with his shadowe, in geuing eare vnto Iohns report, and in con∣tendinge with his aduersaries: for he was the man that bound him self with an othe, that he would neuer be Byshop of Alexandria, yet afterwardes was founde periured, and to committe euerye kinde of sacrilege: that Peter was aduaunced vnto the priestly function, not wythout good try∣all of his faythe, that he subscribed wyth his owne hande, and approued the faythe of the hree hundred and eyghteene holy fathers in the councell of Nice, which fayth was afterwardes* 3.7 ratifyed by the councell of Chalcedon. These were the wordes of Zeno: VVe woulde haue you assure your selfe that our highnesse with moste holye Peter (mentioned before) and all the Christian congregations doe embrace and reuerence the sacred councell of Chalcedon, which councell is one in effect with the Nicene creede. There are Epistles to be seene amonge the actes of the aforesayde councell, partly of Cyrill (mentioned before) and partly of other gouer∣nours of the monasteries of Constantinople, and of the byshops and clergie within the prouince of Aegypt vnto Felix byshop of Rome, against Peter as an heretick, and against all them that com∣municated with him. As many of the vigilant monks as came to Felix rebuked Misinus and Ʋita∣lis because that vntill their comminge to Constantinople the name of Peter was secretely vsed to be reade in the holy catalogue, but since that time continually vnto this present houre Misinus and Ʋitalis communicated with Peter. The Epistle whiche the Byshops of Aegypte wrote signi∣fied this muche of Peter, and that Iohn was of the true fayth, and consecrated accordinge vnto the canons of the Churche: that Peter was ordered onely by two Byshops infected with the same ex∣ror with him, and that immediately after the flight of Iohn he left no punishment vnpractised vpon the true professors. All which circumstances are said to haue bene signified vnto Acacius and that Acacius ayded Peter in all what so euer he went about.

CAP. XXI.

Howe Symeon one of the vigilant monks went to Rome, accused them that came from Rome to Con∣stantinople, that they had communicated with hereticks and procured their depriuation.

THe aforesayd accusations were augmented at the report of Symeon one of the vigilant monks whome Cyrill had sente vnto Felix. For Misinus and Ʋitalis were reprehended of him be∣cause they communicated with heretickes, specially seeing the name of Peter the hereticke was openly reade in the holy catalogue: and that in so doing many simple men were snared of the hereticks, who sticked not to bragge that the Byshop of Rome receaued Peter into the communi∣on. Symeon sayde moreouer that when certaine interrogatories were demaunded, Misinus and his company woulde not conferre with the true catholickes, would not receaue their writin̄gs, neither exquisitly sift out suche thinges as were done, and greatly did preiudice the true fayth. Syluanus the prieste who accompanied Misinus and Ʋitalis to Constantinople was broughte forth and he a∣uoutched that the monks allegations were true. They reade moreouer the Epistle of Acacius, where he gaue Simplicius to vnderstand that Peter was lately deposed and pronounced the childe of darkenesse. To be shorte Misinus and Ʋitalis were deposed of their dignities, and cutte of from the holy and vndefiled communion, and that by the censure of the wholl assembly which pronoun∣ced of Peter as followeth. The Churche of Rome doth not communicate with Peter the heretick* 3.8 who was lately condemned by the Apostolicke s••ae, excommunicated the Church, and helde for accursed: although there were no other crime to charge him with all, yet is this of force suf∣ficient, that he can not gouerne the faithful people of God, because he was ordered of hereticks. In the same decree this also was comprised: It appeared euidently that Acacius byshop of Con∣stantinople was greatly to be blamed, because for all he wrote vnto Simplicius and called Peter an hereticke, yet he would not make Zeno priuey thereunto, when as in verie deede, if he had borne good will vnto Zeno he should haue done it. And rather he should haue pleased the Em∣perour then prouided for the fayth. But let vs returne to discourse of the historie. There is extant an Epistle of Acacius vnto the byshops of Aegypt, priests, monks, & al the people where he endeuo∣reth to bring such as raise schisme & dissention, to embrace peace and vnity▪ of the same matter also he wrote vnto Peter Byshop of Alexandria.

CAP. XXII.

Of the schisme raised at Alexandria, and in sundrie other places toutching the councell of Chalcedon.

WHen the schisme waxed hotte, and the sedition grieuous within the citie of Alexandria, Peter perswaded certaine Byshops and gouernours of monasteries to communicate with him. There he condemned and accursed the decrees of Leo, the actes of the Chal∣cedon councell, and suche as woulde not receaue the bookes of Dioscorus and Timothee. Manye o∣thers he banished their monasteries when he could not allure them to his hereticall opinion. wher∣fore Nephalius tooke his voyage to Constantinople, reuealed the wholl vnto Zeno, who therefore was wonderfull sorie, and sent thither Cosmas one of his garde for to threaten and rebuke Peter ve∣rie sharpely, partly for coutemninge the Epistle of Zeno intitled of concorde, and partly also be∣cause that through his rough dealinge so great a sedition was raysed. But when Cosmas could pre∣uaile in nothinge saue onely that the expulsed monks were restored by his meanes vnto their mo∣nasteries, backe againe he got him to the Emperour. Wherefore the Emperour the seconde time sent Arsenius lieuetenant of Aegypt, and captaine of the garrison amongest them, who together with Nephalius went straighte to Alexandria, entreated them to keepe the peace: but when he could not obtaine his purpose, he sent some of them to Constantinople. And for al there was great reasoninge in the presence of Zeno about the councell of Chalcedon, yet was there nothinge con∣cluded, for neither did Zeno wholly cleaue vnto it.

CAP. XXIII.

Of Phranitas and Euphemius Byshops of Constantinople: Athanasius and Iohn Byshops of Alexandria: Palladius and Flauianus of Antioch with others.

ABout that time when Acacius Byshop of Constantin••••••, had finished the mortall race of his naturall life, Phranitas was chosen to succeede him in the Byshopricke. He wrote let∣ters of amitie vnto Peter, but Peter aunswered him againe, and inueyed bitterly against the councell of Chalcedon. This Phranitas continewed Byshop no longer then foure moneths but he died and left Euphemius to succeede him. When Peter wrote vnto him also letters of amitie, and Euphemius perceaued that in them he accursed the councell of Chalcedon, he was all out of quiet, and woulde in no wise communicate with Peter. Both their Epistles are extant, Phranitas vnto Peter, and Peter vnto Phranitas, the whiche I will omitte, because they are longe and tedious. When Euphemius and Peter contended among them selues, and while they purposed to call sy∣nods together one against the other, it fell out that Peter departed this life, in whose rowme Atha∣nasius succeeded, which laboured with all might to reconcile suche as were at discorde and dissen∣tion, but he could not preuaile because their mindes were so drawen into diuers and different opi∣nions. The same Athanasius wrote afterwardes letters of amitie vnto Palladius the successor of Peter in the byshopricke of Antioch, specially concerning the councell of Chalcedon. So did Iohn the successor of Athanasius in the seae of Alexandria. Moreouer when Palladius Byshop of An∣tioch had departed this life, Flauianus succeeded him, and sent Solomon priest of Antioch to Alex∣andria with letters of amitie vnto Iohn, requiringe an aunswere by the same messenger. After the deceasse of Iohn, an other Iohn succeeded him in the byshopricke of Alexandria. These things con∣tinewed in this sort the raigne of Anastasius (for he deposed Enphemius of his byshopricke) yet was I fayne here to rehearse them in order for the playner deliuerance, and better vnderstanding of the storye.

CAP. XXIIII.

How Armatus cosen to Berina the Empresse was put to death.

KEno through the procurement of Ilus dispatched out of the way Armatus the cosin of Berina* 3.9 the Empresse, whom Basiliscus sometime had made captaine against him, yet he wonne him to his side, made him in steade of his enemy his companion, and created his sonne Basiliscus, Caesar at Nice. notwithstandinge these great benefites, he got him to Constantinople, and conspi∣red the death of Armatus: his sonne Basiliscus in steade of Caesar he made priest, who afterwardes was preferred to be Byshop.

CAP. XXV.

The death of Theodorichus the Scythian which tooke armour against Zeno.

ABout that time Theodorichus a Scythian borne, prepared him selfe to geue Zeno the Em∣perour battaile, he raised a wonderfull great army in Thracia, and marched forwardes to∣wardes Constantinople: he destroyed all the countrey before him vnto the entry of Pontus, and verily he had taken Constantinople, had not some of his dearest friendes bene displeased with him, and conspired how to bereaue him of his life. he himselfe beinge geuen to vnderstande of the hatred that was borne vnto him, gaue backe, yet not longe after he dyed, but what kinde of death I am now about to declare. There honge on high before his campe after the Barbarian maner, a speare cleft in the ende. He beinge desirous to reuiue his spirites, and exercise his body, commaun∣ded they shoulde bringe him a horse. In all the hast (as he was in other thinges altogether impati∣ent) vp he gets him, the horse beinge vnbroken and fierce, praunced about, fette diuers carrieres ere Theodorichus coulde settle him selfe in his sadle, he fanned the aer with his forefeet, and stood bolt vpright onely vpon the hinder feete, so that Theodorichus had muche adoe to struggle with him, yet durst he not pull the bridle lest he fell vpon him, neyther was he fast on his horse, but was tossed to and froe, so that the point of the speare whiche honge ouer his heade toutched him, and at length stucke in his ri••bes, that he was daungerously wounded. thereupon he was constrained to keepe his bedde, and shortly after dyed.

CAP. XXVI.

How Martianus raised battaile against Zeno, and what became 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him ••n the ende.

AFter the death of Theodorichus, Martianus the sonne of Anthemius Emperour sometime of Rome, and allyed vnto 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Emperour, rebelled against Zeno.▪ He had maried Leon∣ti•• the yonger daughter of Leo, and fell to practise tyrannye. When they had fought in the pallace, and many fallen of both sides, Martianus foyled his aduersaries, and had taken the pal∣lace, had not he posted his deuise ouer vnto the nexte daye, and let slippe the opportunitie that was geuen him. Occasion is a slipperie thinge, beinge once past, perhaps it will not come againe: be∣inge gone out of our hande, it flyeth with the aer▪ laugheth the pursuers to scorne, and bids fooles farewell. For he that will not when he may, when he will, he shall haue nay. Poets and Paynters* 3.10 the fathers of glosses and vizards, vse to portract the forepart of the heade with a bushe of heare, and to leaue behinde the bald skull: geuinge vs very wittily to vnderstand that while occasion or opportunity is behinde it can not be helde, for there is no heare to take holde of, but while it is in the forehead it flyeth away & makes of the pursuer a foole. Whiche verily happened vnto Martia∣nus, who as he refused time when time was offered, so afterwardes coulde he not get it to turne a∣gaine. For the day followinge he was betrayed of his owne men, left desolate, and constrayned to flye vnto the temple of the holy Apostles, but thence he was driuen out, and remoued to Caesarea i•• Cappadocia: While he crept there amonge certaine Monks and coueted to hide him selfe, the Emperour sent him as farre as Tarsus in Cilicia, there was he shauen and made priest. Eustathi∣us Syrus hath exquisitly discoursed of these things.

CAP. XXVII.

The conspiracie and tyrannie of Ilus and Leontius.

THe aforesayde Eustathius doth write howe Zeno conspired diuers times the death of Berina his wiues mother, banished her into Cilicia, remoued her thence againe into a castell cal∣led Papirium, where Ilus played the tyrant, & there she departed this life. Eustathius hand∣leth verie artificially the doinges of Ilus how he escaped the hands of Zeno, and how Zeno executed him whom he had sent to dispatche the other, takinge his heade from of his shoulders for faylinge of his purpose. For to cloke his doings he made Ilus captaine of his power and armie in the East. He acquainting him selfe, not onely with Leontius, but also with Marsus a worthy man, and with Pampreps remained still in the east. Againe how Leontius was proclaymed emperour at Tarsus in Cilicia: what ende these tyrants enioyed: howe Theodorichus a Gotth of great honor among the Romaines, was made general captaine and sent against them with great power both of our owne men and of Barbarians: howe Zeno executed the poore wretches in recompence of the good will they bare vnto him, and the trauell they had taken in his affaires, and how Theodorichus vn∣derstanding

of Zenos malicious purpose pretended against him got him to olde Rome, Eustathius hath excellently layde downe in writing for the knowledge of the posteritie. Yet some doe report that Theodorichus through the procurement of Zeno ouercame Odoacer, so conquered Rome and called him selfe King.

CAP. XXVIII.

Of Mammianus and his doings.

IOhn Rhetor declareth that Mammianus liued in the dayes of Zeno, who though he were basely borne, yet came he to be Senator: that he buylded Antiphorum in the suburbes of Daphne, a place before time where vines did growe, beinge erable grounde, ouer against the publyque bath where there standes a brasen picture with this inscription Mammianus louer of the citie. The same Iohn writeth howe he builded in the citie two princely gates very gorgeous both for the magnificencie of the buyldinge and curious workemanshippe of the stone: howe he erected Te∣trapylon as a distance or separation of both the gates artificially set vp with brasen pillours. We our selues haue seene these gates retayninge as yet not onely the name, but also relyques of the auncient bewtie, in that there are now stones there which were caried thither out of the Isle Pro∣connesus, where with the floore is paued. As for the buylding it selfe, it is nothing as it was. For of the olde stone there is new buylding made, yet setting forth in no point the auncient erection. As for Tetrapylon buylded by Mammianus, there stands not a foote of it to be seene.

CAP. XXIX.

The death of Zeno the Emperour, and the creation of Anastasius.

WHen Zeno without issue had departed this life of the falling sicknesse in the seuententh* 3.11 yeare of his raigne: Longinus his brother raised great power, was in good hope of ob∣taining the Empire, yet missed of his purpose. For Ariadne tooke the Emperial scep∣ter and crowned therewith Anastasius, who as yet was not made Senatour, but onely entered in the schole of such as were called Silentiarij. Eustathius moreouer remembreth that from the raigne of Diocletian vnto the death of Zeno, and the creation of Anastasius, there were two hundred and seuen yeares: from the Impery of Augustus who raigned alone, fiue hundred thirtie two yeares and seuen moneths: from the raigne of Alexander Magnus, king of Macedonia, eyght hundred thirtie two yeares, and seuen moneths: from the buylding of Rome and the kingdome of Romulus, one thousande fiftie two yeares and seuen moneths: from the destruction of Troie, one thousand sixe hundred, eyghtie sixe yeares. This Anastasius was borne in Epidamnum, now called Dyrrachium: he tooke not onely the Emperiall scepter after Zeno, but also Ariadne his wife: & first of all he sent Longinus the brother of Zeno, maister (as of olde it was called) of the hauliers into his countrey, and to dyuerse others of Isauria whiche requested the same, he gaue leaue to depart vnto their owne home.

CAP. XXX.

How Anastasius the Emperour woulde in no wise alter any thing of the Ecclesiasti∣call state, but persecuted and banished such as disturbed the quiet state of the Churche and sought to thrust in nouelties.

ANastasius was a great maintainer of peace and tranquillitie, he would haue nothing altered eyther toutchinge the regiment of the common weale, or the gouernement of the ecclesiasti∣call affaires: nay endeuored with all meanes possible that the most holy Churches shoulde be voyd of tumults and dissention, & that all his subiects should enioy peace and quietnes, riddinge as well clergie as laytie from all discord and dissention. As toutching the councell of Chalcedon, it was then neyther openly preached in the most holy Churches, neyther generally reiected. For euery gouernour of the seuerall congregations did therein as it seemed good vnto him self. And as some mayntained earnestly the canons of that councell grauntinge not one iote, neyther admit∣ting the chaunge of one syllable, but rather auoyded the companye of such as reiected the same, and refused to communicate with them: so other some not onely condemned the councell with the

decrees thereof, but also accursed it with Leos determination of the fayth. Some other cleaued wholly vnto Zenos Epistle of vnity, yea when they were at bitter contention amongst them selues whether there was one or two natures in Christ. Some of them were deceaued in the verie ioy∣ning of the letters together, some others were rather disposed to reconciliation & maintenance of peace, in so much y^• all the Churches were deuided into sundrie factions, & the byshops them selues refused to communicate one with the other. so that there rose thereof great adoe in the East, VVest and Libya, while the byshops of the East would communicate neither with the westerne byshops, neither with the byshops of Libya, neither among them selues, but fell euery day to exceede more then other in malicious contention. for the byshops of y^• East would not be reconciled among them selues, neither would the byshops of Europe, neither of Libya be at one either with them selues or with forrainers. wherefore Anastasius the Emperour vnderstanding of this hurliburly deposed all the autors of nouelties, & all such as contrary to the custome of the place, either preached the coun∣cell of Chalcedon, or accursed the same. And first he banished Euphemius out of Constantinople, after him Macedonius whome Timothee succeeded, and besides these he draue Flauianus out of Antioch.

CAP. XXXI.

Howe the monks of Palaestina wrote vnto Alcison of Xenaias the monke and others.

THe monks of Palaestina wrote vnto Alcison toutching Macedonius and Flanianus in such sort* 3.12 as followeth. VVhen Peter had departed this life, Alexandria, Aegypt and Libya were at variance among them selues, & other c••ūtreis of the East contended within them selues: for the west Churches would in no wise cōmunicate with them saue vnder this condition, that they would accurse Nestorius, Eutyches, Dioscorus, Peter syrnamed Moggus and Acacius. VVher∣fore seeing the churches throughout the worlde, were at this pointe, the fauourers of Dioscorus and Eutyches were brought to a narrow rowme. And now being as it were euerie one rooted & weeded from of the face of the earth, one Xenaias after the Etymologie of his name far estraun∣ged from God, we knowe not what wicked fiende had bewitched his minde, or what malice he owed vnto Flauianus, vnder cloke of religion (as report goeth) he made an insurrection a∣gaynst him and charged him with the here••ie of Nestorius. VVhen he had accursed Nestorius with his hereticall opinion, he lefte him and turned to Dioscorus, and Theodorus and Theodo∣ritus, and Ibas, and Cyrus, and Eutherius, and Iohn, and to others, we wot not who, neyther out of what countreye: of whiche number some in very deede were Nestorians, some others to auoyde the suspition of that heresie, accursed Nestorius, and returned vnto the Churche. Vnlesse thou accurse, (••••yd Xenaias) all these whiche sauour of Nestorius fylthye sinke of hereticall doctrine, thou thy selfe shalt seeme to be of Nestorius opinion, although thou accurse both him and his doctrine, yea a thousande ty••••es. The same Xenaias moreouer dealte by letters both wyth the complices of Dioscorus and the fauourers of Eutyches, perswadinge them to holde wyth him againste Flauianus, not that they shoulde accurse the Councell, but onelye the persons aboue named. After Flauianus the Byshope had wythstoode them a longe whyle, and sawe that o∣thers h••ld with Xenaias against him, namely Ele••sinus Byshop of some city or other, within Cap¦padocia the less, Nicias byshop of Laodicea in Syria with others of other countreis (whose ac∣cusations proceeding of abiect mindes we will passe ouer with silence, and geue others leaue to report them) at length remembring him selfe, they would be pacified, if the aforesaide persons were accursed, yelded vnto them. And after he had condemned those men with his owne hand he wrote vnto the Emperour, for these men had set him vp against Flauianus, as if he had beene patrone of Nestorius heresie. Neyther was Xenaias satisfied with this, but agayne required Flauianus to condemne both the Councell and suche as affyrmed there were two natures in Christe, the one humane, the other diuine, who for refusinge to doe this, is charged a freshe wyth Nestorius opinion. Last of all after much adoe, when the patriarch had published a forme of faith where he had vnfainedly geuen to vnderstand that the councell as toutching the depri∣uation of Nestorius and Eutyches was to be approued, but not for their decree of the faith & do∣ctrine: they threaten to take him in hand againe, as one that secretly sauored of Nestorius, vnlesse he woulde accurse both the Councell it selfe, and them that affirmed there were two natures

in Christe, one diuine, the other humane. Moreouer with flatterie and fallacies they allured the Isaurians to their side, & patched together a forme of fayth wherin they accursed both the coū∣cell, and suche as affirmed there were two natures in Christe: in the ende deuided them selues from Flauianus, and Macedonius, and ioyned with them, who had subscribed vnto that patched fayth. In the meane space they requested the Byshop of Ierusalem to laye downe his fayth in writinge, the whiche he did, and sent it by the faction of Dioscorus vnto the Emperour. This* 3.13 fayth at length with shame inough they brought forth, accursinge suche as saide there were two natures in Christ. But the byshop of Ierusalem charged them they had corrupted his faith, wrote an other where there was no suche accurse: But no maruell at all, for they haue corrupted of∣tentimes the bookes and writinges of the holye fathers, by chaunginge their titles and inscrip∣tions, and fatheringe the workes of Apollinarius the hereticke vpon Athanasius, Gregorie the renowmed, and Iulius, snaringe many of the simple people with these their wiles and subtlety in their hereticall opinions. They craued also of Macedonius they might see his beliefe in wri∣tinge, who protested he onely allowed the fayth published of olde at Nice by three hundred and eyghteene holye fathers, and afterwardes ratified at Constantinople, accursinge Nestorius, Eutyches, wyth suche as sayde there were two sonnes, or two Christes, or deuided the natures: yet spake he not a worde of the Ephesine Councell, whiche deposed Nestorius, neyther of the Chalcedon Councell, whiche depriued Eutyches. VVherefore the Monkes of Constantino∣ple were wonderfully moued with this, and deuided them selues from Macedonius. All this while Xenaias and Dioscorus hauinge linked vnto their side manye other Byshops, behaued them selues intollerably towardes suche as woulde not accurse whome they woulde haue ac∣cursed, in so muche they procured diuers, because they woulde not yeelde vnto them, to be ba∣nished. Thus they made Macedonius, Iohn Byshop of Platum, and Flauianus to leaue the coun∣trey. So farre of the monks letters.

CAP. XXXII.

How Macedonius byshop of Constantinople and Flauianus byshop of Antioch were exiled.

THe thinges which secretly vexed the minde of Anastasius were farre otherwise. For when Ariadne purposed to present Anastasius with the Emperiall robe, Euphemius the Byshop would in no wise cōsent to his coronation vntill y^• Anastasius deliuered him his hand writing confirmed with an othe, where he plainely declared if he were Emperour, he would maintaine the true faith, & bringe no nouelty into the Church of God, whiche hand writinge he gaue Macedoni∣us the treasurer to keping. Euphemius did this because Anastasius was suspected to be a Manichee. When Macedonius was aduaunced to the reuerende office of priesthood, Anastasius called for his hand writing, It is (saith he) a great discredit vnto our scepter, that our hand should be kept to te∣stifie against vs, or that we shoulde be tyed to penne and paper. But Macedonius denyed him very stoutly, and affirmed plainely it shoulde neuer be saide of him that he betrayed the fayth: therefore Anastasius the Emperour deuised howe to worke him mischiefe, to thende he might colourablye depose him. At length there came forth yonge men sclaunderinge both them selues and Macedo∣nius also of an haynous offence: they founde him to haue wanted the member of generation, then proceded they to espy other holes in his coat, neither rested they vntil at length through y^• fetches of Celer maister of y^• hauliers, they had priuely wrought his depriuation. There ensued after this conspiracy against Flauianus, other troublesome businesse. For we our selues haue learned of olde* 3.14 men, who remembred very wel such aduentures as befell vnto Flauianus, how the monks of Cy∣negica, which inhabited the chiefest countrey of Syria, being perswaded by Xenaias byshop of Hie∣rapolis bordering vpon Antioch, & syrnamed after the grecians Philoxenus, made an insurrection, came all vpon a heade to Antioch, purposinge to force Flauianus, both to accurse the councell of Chalcedon and Leos decree of the faith. When Flauianus tooke the matter verye grieuouslye, and the monkes vrged him wyth violence: The citizens by reason of that greate sturre and sediti∣on, made suche a slaughter of the monks, that manye of them, naye an infinit number in steede of quiet earth and still graue, were buryed in the swifte waues of the riuer Orontes. There happe∣ned an other thinge that was no lesse lamentable then the former. The monkes whiche inhabi∣ted Caelosyria nowe called Syria Minor, bearinge singuler good will and affection vnto Flauia∣mes,

who some tyme leade a Monasticall lyfe in the Abbeye of Tilmognum, came in all the ••aste to Antioch for to assiste Flauianus, so that there ensued thereof great mischiefe. Wherefore Flauianus, whether it were for the former slaughter, or the later calamitie, or peraduenture for both, was banished the prouince, and inioyned to inhabite the craggie deserts in the furthest part of Palaestina.

CAP. XXXIII.

Of Seuerus byshop of Antioch.

WHen Flauianus was exiled Seuerus was chosen byshop of Antioch, in the moneth Dius,* 3.15 the fiue hundreth three score, and first yeare after the citie bare this name, but now, that is the time I penned this history, the sixe hundreth forty, and first yeare. This Seuerus was borne in Soxopolis a citie of Pisidia, before they made him byshop, he pleaded lawe at Bery∣tus. But as soone as he was baptized in the Churche of Leontius the holy martyr, whom Tripolis a citie lyinge on the Sea cost of Phoenicia doth honor, he translated his studye from lawe vnto monasticall life the whiche he led in a monastery, lyinge in the middes betweene Gaza and Maiu∣ma. Where Peter the Iberian, Byshope sometime of Gaza, and the companion of Timotheus Ae∣lurus, both in sustayninge of banishment, and substance of doctrine, was muche spoken of. Further∣more Seuerus (of whome I purpose to entreat) conferringe with Nephalius (who sometime was of one religion with him, to wit, that there was one nature in Christe, yet afterwardes helde wyth the Councell of Chalcedon, and suche as sayde there were two natures in our Lorde Christe Ie∣sus) was expulsed the monasterye by Nephalius and his complices, together with manye others of his opinion. Thence he went straight to Constantinople, both for him selfe and in the name of all the rest that were expelled with him, and so became acquainted with the Emperour Anasta∣sius, as it is reported by him that wrote Seuerus life. Wherefore he wrote letters vnto the patrons of his opinion of their mutuall loue and agreement, where by name he condemneth the Councell of Chalcedon. This whiche I speake of, is layde downe by the monks in their Epistle vnto Al∣cison.* 3.16 The Epistle whiche Timothee nowe Byshope of Constantinople, wrote vnto the monkes here in Palaestina of mutuall loue and agreement was receaued: But the depriuation of Ma∣cedonius and Flauianus, together with the letters of Seuerus was reiected. The messengers that brought the letters, were as they deserued contumeliouslye entreated (for the citizens and monkes conspired their deathes) that they were fayne to runne awaye for to saue theyr lyues. And thus it went with vs in Palaestina. But of the prouinces of Antioch, they were partly ledde into error wyth others, namelye Martinus Byshope of Berytus, and partly constrayned to subscribe vnto Seuerus letters of mutuall loue and agreement, whiche accursed not onely the Councell, but also who so euer affirmed there were two natures in Christ, the one diuine, the other humane. But suche as were compelled to geeue theyr consent, repented them after∣wardes, and returned vnto the Churche, namelye the Byshopes throughout the prouince of Apamia. There were other some that woulde in no wise agree, of whiche number Iulianus Byshope of Bostra was sayde to be, Epiphanius Byshope of Tyrus wyth other Byshopes. The Isaurians after repentaunce condemned theyr former error and follye, and accursed Seuerus wyth all that fauored him. Other Byshopes and priestes wythin Seuerus iurisdiction, forsooke their Churches, namelye Iulianus Byshope of Bostra, Peter Byshope of Damascus, who lyue here wyth vs: Mamas also wyth one of the two Dioscorians, who affirmed there were two natures from the beginninge, whose wilfull frowardnesse made Seuerus whether he woulde or no to condemne them. After a few lines. The monasteries both here, and at Ierusalem (God be praysed for it) doe holde wyth the right fayth, euen so doe manye cities and Byshopes. For all which, and for vs our selues vouchsafe most holy Lorde, and our right honorable father to pray that we fall not into temptation.

CAP. XXXIIII.

Howe Cosmas and Seuerianus two Byshopes within the prouince of Antioch sent Seuerus their Archebyshope a depriuation.

IN so muche the aforesayde letters make mention howe the prouince of Apamia fell from Seuerus, nowe we thought good to laye downe a certayne historye deliuered vs by our elders, whiche we founde no where recorded. Cosmas Byshope of our Epiphania vpon the ryuer O∣rontes, & Seuerianus byshop of Arethusa a bordering citie, being very muche offended with Seue∣rus letters of mutuall loue and agreement, first of all deuided them selues from his communion, nexte sent vnto him a Libell of depriuation, for all he gouerned the Byshopricke of Antioch, de∣liueringe it vnto Aurelianus chiefe Deacon of Epiphania: who because he feared Seuerus, and reuerenced the autoritye of so worthye a Byshopricke, at his firste comminge to Antioch, a∣rayed him selfe in womans attyre, and so got him to Seuerus: He behaued him selfe so softlye, & so effeminatly, that they tooke him to be a woman in deede: He muffled him selfe and pulled the veyle ouer his heade as farre as his breste: He whined wyth a shrill and pitifull voyce, he sigh∣ed deepelye: He crooched lyke a poore suter, and as Seuerus passed by, he reached into his hand the bill of depriuation, when he had so done, he priuelye conueyed himselfe awaye from the traine that followed Seuerus, and so was out of theyr reach ere Seuerus coulde learne what was con∣tayned in the Libell, But Seuerus though he receaued the Libell, and perceaued what they had written therein, continewed neuer the lesse in his Byshopricke vnto the death of Anastasius the Emperour. When Anastasius vnderstoode of the circumstances whiche happened vnto Seuerus (I can not chuse but recorde in this place the good nature and clemencie of Anastasius) he charged Asiaticus Lieuetenant of Libaeesa in Phoenicia, to remoue Cosmas and Seuerianus from theyr Byshoprickes, because they sent vnto Seuerus the Libell of depriuation. After his comminge into the Easte, and perceauinge howe that manye were of Seuerianus and Cosmas o∣pinion, and that they defended theyr cityes manfullye, he wrote backe vnto Anastasius that* 3.17 there was no displacinge of them wythout slaughter and bloodshed. Wherefore there was so muche mercye and pitye in the minde of Anastasius, that he signifyed vnto Asiaticus in playne wordes he woulde haue no enterprise taken in hande, were it neuer so noble, or so worthye, if it did coste him as muche as one droppe of bloode. In this state were the Ecclesiasticall affayres duringe the raygne of Anastasius, whome some men haue blotted out of the sacred catalogue as enemy vnto the councell of Chalcedon, for at Ierusalem he was accursed.

CAP. XXXV.

The foyle and ouerthrowe of the Isaurian tyrants.

PEraduenture we shall not otherwise chuse but performe that whiche we promised before, if we annexe vnto the aforesayde historye, other famous actes that were done in the dayes* 3.18 of Anastasius. Longinus the brother of Zeno after his comminge as I sayde before into his natiue soyle, made preparation to proclayme open warres agaynst the Emperour: Gathered greate power from euerye place together wyth the Isaurians, and he him selfe beinge an Isau∣rian,* 3.19 marched forwardes to battayle. There came to ayde him the Byshope of Apamia in Syria. Shortlye after the battayle was ended, partlye because the Isaurians whiche fought wyth Lon∣ginus were foyled euerye one, and partlye also because the heades of Longinus and Theodorus were sent of Iohn the Scythian to Constantinople, and there by the commaundement of the Em∣perour stickt vp on polles beyonde the water, ouer against Constantinople, in a place called Sycae. It was a goodly sight vnto the citizens of Constantinople, for Zeno and the Isaurian{us} had grieuouslye vexed them diuers tymes before. A seconde Longinus syrnamed Selinuncius one of the* 3.20 chiefe rebelles, and Indus were sent aliue by Iohn syrnamed Cyrtus, vnto Anastasius the Empe∣rour, whiche made both the Emperour and the citizens of Constantinople marueilous glad, for Longinus and Indus were tyed with iron chaines about their neckes, and wrists of their handes, led throughout the streetes, & about their stage and theater as the guyse is in triumphes. Immediatly vpon that, the Isaurian tribute which mounted to fiue thousand pound, and was yearely paide vnto the Barbarians thenceforth was brought into the Emperours treasurie.

CAP. XXXVI.

Of the Barbarians called Scenetae how they rebelled, yet afterwardes ioyned in league with the Romaines.

SCenetae, Barbarians so called, because of their dwelling in tents and tabernacles, were so puf∣fed* 3.21 vp with pride that they tooke armour against the Empire of Rome, yet to their great hurt and domage: they destroyed Mesopotamia: both Phoenicia and Palaestina. In thende they were so plagued of the captaines and lieuetenants throughout euery prouince, that thence forth they cryed truce, and ioyned in league with the Romaines.

CAP. XXXVII.

The besieginge of Amida and buylding of Daras.

THe Persians moreouer breakinge their league and passinge beyonde their proper boundes were led by Cabades their kinge into Armenia: they ouercame the countrey: they tooke Theodosiopolis and came to Amida, a strong city in Mesopotamia and besieged it, the which was afterwards recouered by the Emperour of Rome, not without great paine and trouble. If a∣ny* 3.22 be disposed to know exquisitly all the circumstances thereof, and as commonly we say, to haue all at his fingers endes, let him reade Eustathius, where the whole is layde downe in writinge with great skill and diligence: who when he had continued the historie vnto the twelfe yeare of Ana∣stasius raigne, and the time which our penne doth now prosecute, he knit vp his story and departed this life. When this battaile was ended, Anastasius made of a wilde countrey a ciuill towne, in a place of Mesopotamia called Daras, lyinge in the furthest parts of the Romaine dominions, as a bounde betweene one countrey and an other: walled it very strongly about: erected goodly and gorgeous buyldings: founded holy Churches: princely towers, publique baths, with diuers o∣ther such monuments wherewith cities are set forth and adorned. The report goeth that the place* 3.23 was called Daras because Darius was there ouercome by Alexander king of Macedonia, the sonne of Philip.

CAP. XXXVIII.

Of the place called the Long wall buylded by Anastasius.

THe aforesayd Emperour made a noble and a princely peece of worke in Thracia, called the long wall, situated in a goodly soyle, from Constantinople at the furthest two hundred and fourescore furlonges, the Sea compasseth eyther of them about foure hundred and twentie furlonges in breadth muche lyke a narrowe Sea, and maketh of the citye an Iland, beinge all in manner inuironed with water: it transporteth with great speede suche as saile from Pontus to Propontis and the Thracian Sea: laste of all it repelleth suche Barbarians as make inrodds, out of the Sea Euxinum, Colchis, and the fenne of Meotis, out of the deserts beyond the hill Cau∣casus, and out of Europe.

CAP. XXXIX.

Of Chrysargyrum the tribute for baudrie which Anastasius the Emperour tooke away.

THere is besides an other worthye acte, or rather diuine, done of this Emperour in takinge awaye the tribute Chrysargyrum whiche is to be recorded of vs to the knowledge of the posteritye in time to come. And to speake thereof sufficientlye, we haue neede of Thucy∣dides tongue or some other more eloquent and copious, yet I will discourse thereof beinge not so muche incouraged wyth my simple stile and sclender wordes as wyth the noble minde of the autor, and the worthynesse of the acte. There was a wicked trybute, odious to God and man, vnseemely amonge the Barbarians them selues, and no lesse abhominable to be spoken of amonge Christians throughout the Romaine dominions, set and demaunded of the ample and renowmed common weale of Rome, not spoken of vnto the time of Anastasius, and why so, I am not able to declare, the whiche his noble and vertuous minde tooke awaye, not wythout the greate com∣mendation of all people vnder heauen. This tribute was sette (omittinge diuerse sorts of people) vpon suche as lyued by fylthye lucre and gayne, vpon naughtipackes whiche made sale of shamefastnesse, haunted brothelhouses, and prostrated them selues in blynde corners of the citye: To be short, vpon all suche as were not ashamed to committee whoredome: Who in∣iured nature not a litle, and brought the common weale to great reproche and infamy, in so muche

that the filthye gayne gotten thereby allured thereunto suche as burned wyth bruitishe luste and concupiscence, no otherwyse then a lawe or proclamation. Agayne the gatherers of this impi∣ous and abhominable tribute acrueinge by reason of suche haynous offences brought it euerye fourth yeare vnto the chiefe magistrate, so that it was thought to be one of the chiefest tributes that belonged vnto the crowne, and layde it vp in the Gardiuiance or priueye coffers. The ceas∣sers were not of the simplest sort, and meanest persons, neyther the office numbred amonge the basest in the common weale. Anastasius vnderstandinge the whole made the Senate priueye thereunto, tolde them what an haynous and an horrible acte it was, commaunded it shoulde quite be taken away, and burned the rolles whiche directed them vnto the ceassed and taxed polls. Fur∣thermore when he purposed with him selfe to offer sacrifice vnto God in rootinge out that filthe and abhomination, to thende it might be vnpossible for any after him to reuiue those olde dregges of Lecherye: He fayned him selfe to be in a greate agonye, accused him selfe of rashe dealinge, and meere madnesse, sayinge he was toe vayne glorious, and by that meanes weyed not the v∣tilitye and profitte of the common weale, in that he had taken awaye both foolishlye and wythout aduisement, so large a tribute, begonne so manye yeares agoe, and continewed so longe a time not foreseeinge the discommodityes that ensued, by reason of the wante thereof, the charges for mayntenance of soldiers, the strength of the common weale, The tribute beinge as a fortresse to defende it, the liberalitye risinge thence, and turned to vpholde the seruice of God. Laste of all makinge no man of his counsell, he proclaymed that his will was the tribute shoulde be wholly restored againe: therefore he called vnto him the olde receauers, he tolde them that he was sorye for the burninge of the recordes, that he knewe not what to doe, howe to excuse his folly, neyther what to deuise, seeinge their registeries were consumed to ashes. When as they vnfaynedlye and from the very heart bewayled their losse, and the want of the ill gotten goods which came thereby into their hands, and tolde him playnely that it was in manner vnpossible to restore the tribute againe: he requested them to doe all their indeuor, and to searche if happely they might finde a∣monge all the recordes that were in anye place preserued, the order of demaundinge the taxe and tribute. Wherefore he sent vnto euerye one of them his charges for searchinge the countreys and recordes, and commaunded that euerye deede or scrole which made mention thereof, where so e∣uer it were founde shoulde be brought vnto him, to thende this taxe might be restored agayne in suche good order that it coulde neuer fall afterwardes into decaye. Shortly after when these mes∣sengers of trust brought tydings what they had founde, Anastasius was wonderfull glad, and seemed to tickle at the heart for ioy, he reioysed in deede because now he had brought about that which troubled him so muche. What (sayth he vnto them) haue ye founde any recordes? where found ye them? be they to any purpose? doe ye thinke there are any where any more left behinde? they aunswered that their trauell had bene greate, that they rode about daye and night, that they had searched both towne and countrey, and swore by the life of the Emperour, that there was not left in al the empire of Rome, not as much as a patch of any scrole that was not brought vnto him. then the Emperour commaunded a pile to be made, all the papers, registers, recordes, bills, and baudy notes to be set thereon, and burned to ashes. when the fire had done his part, he gaue com∣maundement they should throwe water vpon the ashes, either quite to drowne them, or to driue thē away with the streame, purposing fully by this means for euer to tread vnderfoot the scroles of the baudy tribute, that neither sparcle, neither ashes, neither letter, neither any memoriall shoulde re∣maine after the firing of the records. But while we commend Anastasius so highly for banishinge this shamefull tribute, lest we seeme ignorant what diuers men of old being wedded to their owne affections haue reported of him, we thought good here to lay downe their sayinges, and conuince them with their owne words.

CAP. XL.

VVhat Zosimus wrote of Chrysargyrum the shamefull tribute, and of Constantinus the Emperour.

ZOsimus one of them that was bewitched wyth the impious rites and abhominable seruice* 3.24 of Paganes, beinge incensed against Constantinus, because he was the first Emperour whiche forsooke the detestable Idolatrye of the Gentiles, and embraced Christian religi∣on: reporteth howe that the tribute Chrysargyrum was firste deuised by him, and decreed it should be payde euerye fourth yeare. With infinite other sclaunders, he goeth about to defame the god∣ly

and noble Emperour Constantine. For (sayth he) he deuised mischiefes against all sorts of men, of what degree or callinge so euer they were: that he slewe his sonne Crist us verye lamentablye: that he dispatched his wyfe Fausta, by shuttinge her vp i•• a boylinge bathe: that when he woulde haue had his priests to purge him by sacrisice of these horrible murthers, and coulde not haue his purpose, (for they had aunswered plainelye, it laye not in their power to clense him) he lighted by chaunce vpon an Aegyptian whiche came out of Iberia, and perswaded him that the Christian fayth was of force to wipe away euerye sinne, were it neuer so haynous, and that he embraced wil∣lingly all what so euer the Aegyptian tolde him. Laste of all, that he forsakinge his cuntrey reli∣gion cleaued vnto impietye as this lewde varlet reporteth, but that all these reports be no other then lyes and sclaunders, I will immediately declare, and so muche in the meane whyle of Chry∣sargyrum.

CAP. XII.

An inuectiue against Zosimus the Ethnick for reuiling of Constantine, and rayliage at the Christians.

THou saist (O wicked spirit and fiende of hell) that Constantine purposinge to buylde a citie comparable to Rome, layde the fundation of an ample and worthye citie, firste in the cun∣trey of Troie, and the pallace of Priamus: after the stones were layde, and the wall beinge erected on high, to haue espyed that Byzantium was a goodlier soyle for his purpose, to haue enui∣roned it with a wall, to haue enlarged the olde and auncient citie, to haue adorned it with goodly and gorgeous buylding, that it seemed not much inferior to Rome, which grew by a litle and a li∣tle the space and continuance of many yeares to that perfection she is of. Thou saist moreouer that he gaue to the citizens of Byzantium a measure of grame: that such as departed this world at By∣zantium left him great summes of golde for to build and erect his pallaces. Againe thou reportest (I will vse thine owne wordes) that the Emperiall scepter befell vnto Constantius after the death of Constantine his father, and the deceasse of his bretherne: that Constantius (at what time Mag∣nentius and Bretannio rebelled) endeuored to perswade Bretannto to shake of armour: that whē both armies ioyned together, he made an oration, and put them in remembrance of the liberality & boun∣tifulnes of his father towards them, vnder whose banner they had foyled many an host, and recea∣ued of him large rewards, that the soldiers immediatly after y^• hearing of his oration tooke away the princely robe from Bretannio, & led him like a priuate man vnto Constantius, who (for all thou reuilest him with his father) did him no hurt at all. how it can be that so liberall, and so bountifull a prince coulde be so great a karle and pinche peny, as to raise of his subiects so wicked a tribute, I can not see. That he murthered neither Fausta nor Crispus, neither was instru••••ed in y^• misteries of our Christian religion by any Aegyptian at all, heare I beseeche thee what Eusebius syrnamed Pamphilus, who liued the same time, both with Constantine and Crispus, and had great familiaritye with them wro••e of that matter. As for thy selfe, thou writest suche thinges thou neuer heardest of, and are farre from being true, for thou wrotest long after, to witte, in the time of Arcadius and Ho∣norius, or after their raigne. Eusebius in the eyght booke of his Ecclesiasticall historie writeth in this sort. Not longe after, Constantius the Emperour passinge all other throughout his life time* 3.25 in clemencie and goodnesse towardes his subiects, singulerly affected towardes Gods worde, ended according vnto the lawe of nature the common race of his mortall life, leauinge behind him his naturall sonne Constantinus Emperour and Caesar to supplye his rowme. A litle after. His sonne Constantinus being proclaimed full Emperour and Caesar by the army, and longe be∣fore by God him selfe, the vniuersall king, became a follower of his fathers pietie in Christian religion. And about the later eude of his storie he writeth thus. Constantinus the mightie & puy∣sant Emperour beinge renowmed for euery rare vertue and godlinesse, together with his sonne* 3.26 Crispus the most godly Emperour, like vnto his father in all thinges subdued the East parts of the worlde. No doubt Eusebius who liued after Constantine woulde not so highly haue commended Crispus, had he bene slaine of his father. Againe Theodoritus writeth how Costantine about his la∣ter end was baptized at Nicomedia, & y^• therfore he differred it vnto y^t time because he had a great desire to be baptized in Iordan. But thou most wicked Zosimus reportest, y^t since christian religion was published throughout y^• world y^• state of y^• Romain empire decaied & came to nought, y^• which proceeds frō thee either of ignorance, that thou hast not read ouer y^• auncient writers, or of malice.

For the contrarye is soone proued that the Empire of Rome encreased together with our fayth.* 3.27 Remember I besech thee howe about the time of the incarnation of our Sauiour Christ Iesus ma∣ny of the Macedonians were by the Romaynes subdued: Albania, Iberia, Colchi and the Arabians: moreouer the Frenchmen, the Germans, the Brittanns, in the hundred twenty & third Olympiade after Caius Caesar had ouercome them with greate and grieuous battaills, and made the fiue hun∣dred cities which they inhabited, tributaries (as historiographers doe wryte) vnto the Empire of Rome. This Caius was the first which after the Consulls gouerned the Empire alone, he made the way sure for the setting vp of the glorious Monarchie, and in steede of the populare and com∣mon regiment, brought into the worlde that kind of raigne. No doubt it came to passe through the prouidēce of God, because that the Monarchie of Christ was shortly after to take place. All Iudaea besides, and the bordering countreyes were annexed vnto the Empire of Rome, so that the first ta∣xing where Christ also was to be taxed, then firste beganne, and Bethleem likewise layde before theyr eyes, howe that which of olde was prophecied of her, was then fulfilled. For thus had the Prophet Micheas foretold of her. And thou Bethleem Iuda art not the leste amonge the Princes* 3.28 of Iuda, for out of thee there shall come vnto me the captaine that shall gouerne my people Is∣rael. When Christ our God was borne into y^• world, Aegypt was ioined vnto the Empire of Rome in the time of Augustus Caesar (for thē it was that Christ appeared in the flesh) who ouercame An∣tonius & Cleopatra which afterwards dispatched thēselues. After their death Cornelius Gallus was by Augustus Caesar made Liuetenant of Aegypt: & after y^t Ptolomaeees decayed he raigned ouer Ae∣gypt. What cuntreys were wonne frō the Persiās by Ventidius & Curbulon the captaine of Nero, by* 3.29 Seuerus, Traianus, Carus, Cassius and Odaenathus of Palmyra, by Apollonius and sundry others: how ofte Seleucia & Ctesiphon were taken: howe oft Nisibis was nowe the Romaynes, anone the Per∣sians, and after what sorte Armenia with other borderinge nations became vnder the Empire of Rome, thou thy selfe haste penned it as well as others. And yet I had almoste forgotten what thou wrytest to haue bene done by Constantine (who by meanes of our religion gouerned the Romayne dominions with valiant minde and noble prowesse) also what befell vnto Iulianus, nus∣led vp in thy wicked mysteries, what wounds and skarres he left in the common weale. As for the prophecies which concerne the ende of the worlde, or whether it had a beginninge and whether it shal haue an ending it is an higher matter thē can sinke into thy braine. Therfore let vs see if thou* 3.30 wilt, howe the Emperours which were Ethnickes and panyms mayntayners of Idolatry & Pa∣ganisme, and howe of the contrary suche as cleaued vnto the Christian faith ended theyr raygne. was not Cains Iulius Caesar the first Emperour slayne by conspiracy? did not certen souldiers with naked swordes dispatch Caius y^• nephewe of Tiberius? was not Nero murthered by one of his fami∣lier & deare friends? had not Galba the like end, Otho & Vitellius who all three raygned only sixteen moneths? what shall I speake of Titus whome Domitianus poisoned, for all he was his owne bro¦ther? what saist thou of Commodus did not Narcissus dispatch him out of the waye? what shall I speake of Pertinax, and what of Inlian enioyed not both they one kinde of death? what did not An∣tonius the sonne of Seuerus murther his brother Geta, and did not Martialis requite him with the like? what shall I say of Macrinus did not the souldiers handle him like a captiue about Byzan∣tium and cruelly put him to death? was not Aurelius Antoninus of Emessa murthered together w^t his mother? was not Alexander immediatly after hī together w^t his mother likwise put to death? what shall I say of Maximinus whome his owne army dispatched? Or of Gordianus who through the treason of Philip was in like sorte by his owne souldiers put to death? tell me I pray thee thy selfe O Zosimus, what happened vnto Philip and after him vnto Decius, were they not slaine by the enemy? take Gallus and Volusianus with them were they not murthered by their owne armies? what of Aemilianus had not he y^• like miserable end? what Valerianus was not he taken by y^• Persians in battaill & led about of them in triumphe? what when Galienus was slaine through treason and Ca∣rinus beheaded, came not Diocletian to be Emperour, whome Diocletian cutte of lest they shoulde raygne with him. After these Herculius Maximianus, his sonne Maxentius & Licinnius dyed with contumely and shame inough. But since the time the moste noble Emperour Constantine beganne to raygne, since he consecrated vnto God the city he had builte and called it after his owne name, looke about I pray thee and speake indifferently, was there any one Emperour in that citye (Iu∣lian a man of thine owne religion and thy Emperour onely excepted) that was murthered either by his owne subiect, or by the enemy: or any one tyrant that vanquished the Emperour, Basiliscus excepted, yet for all that, he thrust Zeno beside the Emperiall scepter, he was ouercome of him a∣gaine

and lost his head? As for Ʋalens that persecuted the Christians, I wil yeld, take him to thee, thou speakest of none other. Let no man take this our discourse for impertinent stuffe or bayne di∣gressiō it is both profitable for the reader and agreeable with our purpose, because the heathenish historiographers of spite and malice, haue endeuored to corrupt the true histories. And nowe let vs returne vnto the rest of Anastasius raygne.

CAP. XLII.

Of Chrysotelia a kind of tribute deuised by Anastasius.

EUen as the acts mentioned before were nobly done of Anastasius and agreeable with the ma∣iesty of an Emperour: so there ensued immediatly after, other doinges of his which darkned the commendation and renowne of the former. For he deuised the tribute called Chrysotelia, He made marchandise of the souldiers stipend and wages not without greate domage vnto the cō∣mon weale. He tooke away from the courts and places of iudgement their tribute and reuenewes & appoynted throughout euery city suche as they call Proctors or Attorneys through the procur∣ment as they say of Marinus Syrus the chiefe Magistrate called Presidente of the haule. Thereof it came to passe that the greater part of the tribute and reuenewes was lost, the worship and honor of cities decayed. For vnto that time y^• names of the Senatours or Aldermen were matriculated, and euery city counted of the benchers as of a Senate.

CAP. XLIII.

The rebellion and tyranny of Vitalianus.

VItalianus a Thracian rebelled against Anastasius, ouerranne Thracia, Mydia, as farre as O∣dyssus and Anchialus, marched towardes Constantinople with a greate multitude of peo∣ple, which had no certaine dwelling, but roged about and lay in the fleldes: the Emperour sent Hypatius to geue him battail. But Hypatius being betrayed of his owne souldiers, taken aliue, and ransomed with a greate summe of money: Cyrillus made expedition agayust him, fought a daū∣gerous and a doubtfull fielde, so that many beganne to flee. Agayne when Cyrillus by pursuing af∣ter the enemy & calling agayne his owne souldiers seemed to haue the vpper hand, Vitalianus tur∣ned him vnto Cyrill and as the souldiers recoyled of spite, he tooke him in Odyssus. Last of all be in∣uaded the wholl cuntrey vnto Sycae, destroying with sword and consuming with fire all that lay in his way, purposing fully to take Constantinople and to be crowned Emperour. As he pitched his campe in Sycae, Marinus Syrus (mentioned before) went from the Emperour with a great nauy to geue him battaill. Wherefore whē theyr armies came nigh together the ones front was towards Sycae, the others towards Constantinople. First & that for a while they sturre not, next they skir∣mish and florish vpon the water no otherwise then daliaunce, In the ende they close theyr nauies & fought a sore battaill about Bytharia where Vitalianus hauing lost the greater parte of his power was altogether discouraged, and tooke his flight. Away went his souldiers with all speede so that the day after there coulde not one of the souldiers be seene either passing ouer the seaes, or wande∣ring about the city. The reporte goeth that Vitalianus abode a while in Anchialus and there liued quietly. Furthermore an other sorte of Barbarians, who likewise liued abroade cut ouer the seae and inuaded Pylas a city in Cappadocia. About the same time Rhodos on a certaine night now the third time was shaken with a wonderfull great earthquake and in manner all ouerthrowen.

CAP. XLIIII.

VVhen Anastasius would haue had this clause: who was crucified for our sakes, added to the hymne called Trisagium, the people were on an vprore, so that he sent vnto them he would be no longer theyr Emperour, the people with that were appea∣sed. Not long after Anastasius died.

ABout that time there was among the citizens of Constantinople a sore tumult and sediciō, because the Emperour had added vnto theyr Trisagium, who was crucified for our sakes, as if the interlacinge of that clause had bene an ouerthrowe vnto Christian religion. The

captayne and ringeleader of this hurlyburly was Macedonius with the Priests of his diocesse, as Seuerus wryting vnto Sotericus doth remember. This Seuerus was not then made priest, but liued in the Emperours pallace being not expulsed his monastery with the reste as I sayde before. I take that Macedonius was banished not onely for the crimes he was falsely charged withall, but also for this present sedition. And when the people were furiously disposed because of the former clause, not onely the nobility were in great daūger of theyr liues, but also many goodly buyldings were set on fire. The people in theyr rage founde a certaine Monke a rude and simple fellowe in the house of Marinus Syrus, firste they strike his heade of his shoulders, sayinge that through his procurement the aforesayde clause was interlaced, afterwardes they tyed him to a longe poll and lifted him on high, with great shoutinge in derision of him: here is he that conspired againste the Trinitye. The slame of sedition did so flash about, and theyr behauiour was so outragious that the Emperour for sorowe wist not what to doe, he threwe aside the Emperiall scepter, came vnto the theatre, sente the bedells about to proclaime that with good will he woulde be Emperour no lon∣ger: that many in no wise were to be preferred to that rowme for y^• place allowed but of one which was to succeede him in the Empire. The people hearing of this chaunged theyr minds vpō a sud∣dayne, requested Anastasius to take the crowne and in so doing they woulde be quiete. Anastasius* 3.31 shortely after this sturre departed this life when he had bene Emperour of Rome twentye seuen yeares three moneths and so many dayes.

The ende of the thirde booke of Euagrius Scholasticus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Zeno was emperour ••nno Dom. 75.
• * 1.2

  Princes and magistrates should be pa∣ternes of Godlines, vnto the sub¦iects and cō∣mon people.
• * 1.3

  Basiliscus the tyrant and v∣su••per of the Emperiall crowne sent these wicked letters into all churches wherein he condemneth the faith of Leo, the god¦ly bishop of Rome and the canons of the holy councel held at Chalcedō.
• * 1.4

  B〈…〉〈…〉 cō∣dēneth Leo and the coū∣cell of Chal∣cedon.
• * 1.5

  Timotheus. Aelurus. Peter Cna∣pheus. Paulus. Anastasius. 50. Bishops subscribed to heresy for feare.
• * 1.6

  The flatte∣ring and he∣reticall By∣shops of Asia wrote this vnto Basili∣scus the v∣surper.
• * 1.7

  Zacharias Rhetor. The Monke of Constan∣tinople we•• heretickes.
• * 2.1

  Basiliscus the vsu••pe•• is fayne by rea∣son of the commonon ••o call in his former let∣ters layde lowne in the ••. cap. of this booke.
• * 3.1

  Peter. Stephan. Calandio.
• * 3.2

  Peter Mog∣gus.
• * 3.3

  Peter b. of A¦lexādria flat∣••ereth Aca∣••ius b. of Cō¦••tantinople ••ith this epi∣stle.
• * 3.4

  Idle Monkes ••••t men to∣gether by ••e eares.
• * 3.5

  The idle monks sow∣ed tares a∣monge the wheat as the enemy did in the gospell.
• * 3.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 3.7

  Zeno the Emperour vnto Felix b. of Rome.
• * 3.8

  ••e Church Rome pro¦••••nceth •• against ••er b. of ••••••xandria.
• * 3.9

  Zeno slewe Armatus who saued his life.
• * 3.10

  Fronte capil∣lata post h•••• o••••asio cal∣ua.
• * 3.11

  Anastasius created em¦perour An•• Dom. ••92.
• * 3.12

  The monks 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Palaestina ••nto Alci∣••••n.
• * 3.13

  Hereticks are wont to cor∣rupt auncient writers.
• * 3.14

  Hereticall monks, idle braines, all set vpon con¦tention, wer•• slaine like dogs at An¦tioch and throwen int•• the riuer O¦rontes.
• * 3.15

  Seuerus b•• of Antioch yet an hereticke.
• * 3.16

  The monks of Palaestina vnto Alcison
• * 3.17

  The clemen∣cie of Ana∣stasius.
• * 3.18

  Longinus.
• * 3.19

  The b. of A∣pamia a re∣bell.
• * 3.20

  Longinus. ••▪ Indus.
• * 3.21

  Scenetae.
• * 3.22

  Eustathius the historio∣grapher died Anno Do••. 504.
• * 3.23

  Daras a no∣ble c••ue.
• * 3.24

  The scla••¦de••ous re¦ports that Zosimus a Ethnicke made of Con¦stantinus magnus.
• * 3.25

  useb. eccle. ••st. lib. 8. ••p. 14.
• * 3.26

  ••seb. lib. 10. p 9.
• * 3.27

  The Empire of Rome en∣creased with the fayth. Macedoniās. Albania. Ibetia. Colchi. Arabians. Frenchmen. Germans. Buttanns. Indaea. Luk. 2.
• * 3.28

  Mich. 5. Math. 2. Aegypt. Many cun∣treys of Per∣sia.
• * 3.29

  Seleucia. Ctesiphon. Nisibis. Armenia.
• * 3.30

  C. Iulius C••¦sar. Caius Cali••¦gula. Nero. Galba. Otho. Vitellius. Titus. Commod•••• Pertinax. Didius I••••i••¦nus. Antonius. Macrinus. Aurelius Antonius. Alexander Maximinu•• Gordianu•• Philip. Decius. Gallus. Volusianu•• Aemilianu•• Valerianu•• Galienus Carinus. Maximia•••• Maxentiu•• Licinniu•• Iulian.
• * 3.31

  Anno Do. 519.