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. 1.

The solemne mariage of Mauricius and Augusta.

MAuricius being crowned Emperour, first of all made preparation for the solemnitie of his mariage: next celebrated such rites as became the Emperiall scepter, and coupled vnto him in mariage Augusta, otherwise called Constantina, with great pompe and royaltie: last of all made sumptuous feasts & costly bankets, with great glory and renowne. Theosebia and y^• Empresse came to this solenme mariage with* 1.1 a portly traine and rich presents. The one brought with her not only the father and the mother of Mauricius (which was neuer seene to haue happened to any Emperour before) for to honor the mariage with their comely horenesse and reuerend wrincles, but also his brethern of goodly stature & proportion to set forth that royall solemnitie: the other presented a garment all cloth of gold, garnished with purple and pearles of India, she brought also crownes couered wyth gold and precious stones of diuers sorts and sundry colours, together w^t all the nobilitie, as well such as were renowmed for Martiall prowesse, as they that were made of, for their honourable

order of the haule and pallace. all they bare in their handes burninge torches, stoode verye ma∣iestically in the sight of all men, vpholding the glory of that gorgeous spectacle, so that there was neuer sene among men a more excellent, & a more roial shew. Plutarchus Chaeroneus (saith Damo∣philus a Romaine historiographer) said very well, that the puisance & prosperous successe, the fa∣uor & fortune of Rome ioined hands together, but I had rather say, that true piety & felicity so met together in Mauricius alone, that true piety forced felicity to be present, & would in no wise suffer her to be foyled & ouerthrowen. These things being finished, Mauricius couered not onely his head with the crowne, & clad not onely his body in purple, but also his minde with precious ornamēts. for in maner he alone of all the Emperours fell a gouerning of his owne person, and so became an Emperour in deede: first he droue from his minde the popular state of affections, next placinge the order of his peeres and nobilitie in the seate of reason, he made him selfe a liuely paterne of ver∣tue for his subiects to immitate and followe after. Neither doe I report this of him to thende I might sooth him with faire words and flattery (to what purpose I beseech you should I doe so, see∣ing he knoweth not of the things which I doe write) but because the gifts which God hath so boū∣tifully bestowed vpon him, and the affaires which at sundrye times enioyed suche prosperous suc∣cesses, doe manifestly proue it to be most true. All which will we, nill we, we must confesse and ac∣knowledge to be the goodnesse of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  •…•…phia the ••••fe of Ti∣berius.