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. XIIII.

How Simon Magus after his diuelish dealing in Iudaea, gott him to Rome, where he was mett of Peter the Apostle.

THe malicious power of Sathan, enemy to al honestye, & foe to all humane health: brought* 1.1 forth at that tyme, this monster Simon, a father, and worker of all such mischieues, as a great aduersary vnto the mighty, and diuine Apostles. But the diuine, and supercelestiall grace succored her ministers, that by their apparition, and presence, the kindled flame of wicked∣nes was quenched, all pride by them abated, & humbled, which did sett it selfe agaynst the know∣ledge of God. Wherefore, neyther the striuing of Simon, neyther of any other, that then started vp, was able to withstand those Apostolike tymes for the brightnes of trueth, & the diuine word, lately shining from aboue, preuayling on earth, working in his Apostles: victoriously ouercame, and mightely ouer grewe all thinges. But the afore sayd Sorcerer, hauing the eyes of his minde lightened with a diuine, and some sodayne shining from aboue, after that first of all, he was mani∣festly knowne to haue maliciously deale agaynst Peter the Apostle in Iudaea: fled alonge iorneye by sea, from the East vnto the West, thinking to gett by that flight, to liue afterwards at hartes ease. And comming into the city of Rome, he was so ayded by his power, whiche preuayleth in* 1.2 this worlde, that in short tyme he brought his purpose to suche a passe, that his picture was there placed with others, and he honoured as a God. But this his impietye, did not longe pro∣sper, for incontinently, vnder the raygne of Claudius, the wonderfull prouidence of the God of all* 1.3 thinges, and carefull ouer mankinde: guyded vnto Rome Peter, that great, and constant Apo∣stle, chiefe of all the rest for vertuous fauour: agaynst this so greate a corruptor of Christian life: who like a valyant Capitayne, sensed with the diuine armour of God, transported from East vnto West, the precious marchandise of spirituall brightnes, the wholsome doctrine, and light of soules, that is, the preaching of the glad tydinges of the celestiall kingdome.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The comb•• of light and darkenes.
• * 1.2

  Simon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 commeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Rome.
• * 1.3

  Peter came to Rome der Clau••