The auncient ecclesiasticall histories of the first six hundred yeares after Christ, wrytten in the Greeke tongue by three learned historiographers, Eusebius, Socrates, and Euagrius. Eusebius Pamphilus Bishop of Cæsarea in Palæstina vvrote 10 bookes. Socrates Scholasticus of Constantinople vvrote 7 bookes. Euagrius Scholasticus of Antioch vvrote 6 bookes. VVhereunto is annexed Dorotheus Bishop of Tyrus, of the liues of the prophetes, apostles and 70 disciples. All which authors are faithfully translated out of the Greeke tongue by Meredith Hanmer, Maister of Arte and student in diuinitie. Last of all herein is contayned a profitable chronographie collected by the sayd translator, the title whereof is to be seene in the ende of this volume, with a copious index of the principall matters throughout all the histories

CAP. XXIIII.

Are••itall of such as continewed their histories one after an other from the beginning vnto his time.

AS touching the order and continewance of times agreeable vnto the Ecclesiasticall histo∣rie, it is come to passe by the goodnesse of God, that we haue it at this day compendiou∣sly deliuered vnto vs by the workes of such famous historiographers as haue wrytten the sayd historie vnto the posteritie following. for Eusebius Pamphilus hath wrytten from the birthe* 1.1 of Christ vnto the raigne of Constantinus Magnus: Socrates, Theodoret, and Sozomenus haue continewed the times from Constantine vnto Theodosius Iunior, of which Emperours doings, this woorke also of oures hath somewhat discoursed. As for the diuine and prophane histories from the beginning of the world vnto this day, they are orderly continewed by painfull wryters. And first of all Moises beganne to wryte (as it is declared of them which compiled these things toge∣ther)* 1.2 of the things that were done from the creation of the world, euen as he had truely learned of God in mount Sina. Againe others folowed him, shewed the redy way to attaine vnto our religi∣on,* 1.3 and committed to wryting, the actes done since his time. Moreouer Iosephus wrote a very large storie, full of euery kinde of good matter. What fabulous things so euer are reported to haue bene done either by the Grecians or Barbarians of olde time, who either were at ciuill warres with∣in them selues, or waged battaile with foraine enemies, or if any other thing can be remembred* 1.4 since the first molde of man was cast, all I say besides sundry other wryters is laid downe by Cha∣races, Theopompus and Ephorus. As for the Romaine historie, comprising in maner the artes of the whole world, or if any other thing fell out by reason of their ciuill discord, or of quarelles risen betweene them and foraine nations, it is exquisitely handled by Dionysius Halicarnassaeus, who be∣gan hys story from the time of the people called Aborigines, and continewed it vnto the raigne of Pyrrhus king of Epitus. from thēce vnto the ouerthrow of Carthage, Polybius Megapolitanus hath excellently discoursed, all which treatises though occasioned at diuers and sundry times, Appianus

with graue iudgement hath contriued into order and compacted together, adding thervnto of his owne, such things as were worthy of memorie after their dayes vnto his time. Diodorus Siculus* 1.5 wrote vnto the time of Iulius Caesar, Dion Cassius likewise continewed his storie vnto the raigne of Antoninus of Emesa, the like matter and order hath Herodian in maner folowed, ending with the death of Maximus. Nicostratus also a Rhetorician of Trapezus, began with the raigne of Philip, the successor of Gordianus, and wrote vnto Odaenatus of Palmyra, and the ignominious expedition of Valerianus against the Persians. Of the same things entreated Dexippus at large, beginning with* 1.6 the raigne of the Macedonians, and ending with the Imperie of Claudius, the successor of Galie∣nus, the said author laid downe the warres of the Carpians, and of other Barbarians in Hellada, Thracia and Ionia. Eusebius continewed his storie from Octauianus the Emperours raigne, vnto* 1.7 the time of Traian, Marcus, and the death of Carus. Arianus and Asinius Quadratus, wrote somewhat also of those times. The times folowing, reaching vnto the raigne of Arcadius and Honorius the Emperours, Zosimus hath prosecuted, and of the things which happened since their* 1.8 times, Priscus Rhetor with others hath discoursed. All which hystories Eustathius of Epiphania, hath briefly runne ouer, but very excellently, and deuided the whole into two volumes: The first containeth the Actes from the beginning of the world vnto the destruction of Troie, and the Pal∣lace of Priamus, the second contineweth the story from that time vnto the twelfe yeare of Ana∣stasius the Emperours raigne. There beganne Procopius Rhetor, and ended with the dayes of* 1.9 Iustinian. What happened since vnto these our dayes, although Agathius Rhetor, and Iohn both my felow Citezen and kinsman, haue orderly wrytten of, vnto the time when Chosroes the yon∣ger both fledde vnto the Romaines, and also was restored vnto his kingdom by Mauricius, (who went not therein faintly to worke, but courageously as it became an Emperour, and brought Chosroes into his kingdom with great treasure and armed souldiers) yet haue they not as yet pu∣blished their hystories. Of whom hereafter by the grace of God we minde to speake as occasion shall serue.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eusebius. Socrates. Theodoret. Sozomenus. Euagrius.
• * 1.2

  Moises.
• * 1.3

  Esdras and the Prophets Iosephus.
• * 1.4

  Characes. Theopom∣pus. Ephorus. Dionysius Halicarnas∣saeus. Polybius. Appianus.
• * 1.5

  Diodorus Si¦culus. Dion Cassi{us}. Herodian. Nicostratus.
• * 1.6

  Dexippus.
• * 1.7

  Eusebius. Arianus. Asinius.
• * 1.8

  Zosimus. Priscus Rhe∣tor. Eustathius Epiph.
• * 1.9

  Procopius Rhetor. Agathius. Iohn.