The estate of the Church with the discourse of times, from the apostles vntill this present: also of the liues of all the emperours, popes of Rome, and Turkes: as also of the Kings of Fraunce, England, Scotland, Spaine, Portugall, Denmarke, &c. With all the memorable accidents of their times. Translated out of French into English by Simon Patrike, Gentleman.

The originall of Monkes and Monasteries.

The Monastike life began first in Aegypt, Antonius and Macarus were the first and most renowned Authors of this maner of life, which incontinent was disperced into Palestine, Armenia, and Paphlagonia. Sozomen. li. 3. chap. 14. It is greatly to be maruelled at, how this world which in it had so many ex∣cellent Doctors, did straight admit this manner of life, which was neuer instituted of God: and not onely allowed it, but e∣uen themselues instituted it, and so made a new seruice of God by their owne traditions.

It seemeth at the beginning there were two kindes of Monkes, some in sollititude, and others in Cities and companies:* 1.1 Sozom. li. 3. ch. 16. Basilius at large writeth the Oeconomie and lawes of this Monkish life: namely, that a Monke before all things ought to possesse nothing, to be peaceable: that hee ought to haue an honest habit, a moderate voice, words well disposed, to take his refection peaceably, and with silence: and that his glorie ought to be patience in tribulation, humili∣tie and simplicitie of heart, watchings, teares in prayers, so∣brietie

in his speech and eating.* 1.2 Ambrose in his 82. Epistle of his booke saith, that Monasteries were shops of vertue, ab∣stinence, fasting, patience and labour. Out of which they drew Bishops that were accustomed and trained in these ver∣tues. Hierome ad Ruffinum Monachum saith that the Monaste∣ries of the Aegyptians receiued none without dooing some la∣bour or worke. And this was their rule, and as it were their Sim∣bole. Hee that trauelleth not, ought not to eate. The same in his Epistle ad Eutychium, speaketh of three sort of Monkes in E∣gypt.* 1.3 The first were called Cenobites, Sansos in that countrey language, as we might say, liuing in common. The second Anacharites,* 1.4 because they dwelt alone in the Desarts, far from mē. The third they called Remoboth: these dwelt two with two, or three with three at the most, and liued at their discretion and of that which they laboured for; they nourished themselues in common, but often had they debates amongst them.

Before the time of Hierome, it is not like there were any Monasteries in Europe: but that Ambrose (in whose time be∣gan persecutions of virgins) makes often mention of compa∣nies of sacred virgins:* 1.5 otherwise there is no Latine Author of this time in whose writings the name of Monke is found. Cer∣taine it is, that Sozomen. lib. 3. chap. 14. affirmeth them of Thrace, the Illirians and they of Europe had yet no Monastike assemblies.

Valentinian borne also in Hungarie, was made Emperour by the souldiers in the principall Towne of Bithinia, Anno. 366. Hee and Valens were the sonnes of Gratian, borne in Hungarie, of a meane place: and in fauour of him, Ʋalenti∣nian was chosen to the Empire, which hee refused, but after ac∣cepted and made his brother Ʋalens pertaker with him, who had the Countrey of the East, and made his sonne Gratian Augustus. In their time Procopius who vsurped the Empire, was by them discomfited. After, Valentinian chased away the Gothes and other barbarous people of Thrace: The Saxons were brought to their dutie and obedience accustomed: Germanie beeing tossed with continuall troubles, was set

at rest and quietnesse by the happie successe of Theodo∣sius.

Ʋalens then being chosen a consort of the Empire, was at [ 366] first of like pietie and will with his brother as hee hadde also shewed vnder Iulian: but after hee was infected with the Ar∣rian heresie, at the perswasion of his wife, and of Eudoxius Bi∣shop of Constantinople, an Arrian, of whom he was baptised.

During the life of Valentinian, the westerne Church was peaceable, and agreeing to the decrees of the Councell of Nice: But Valens did what he could to aduāce the Arrianisme, against such as were called Homousiastes: that is to say, the true Ca∣tholiques: and stirred great & horrible persecutions, and aboue all, in Antioche and Laodicea, his brother Valentinian reprehen∣ded him, and admonished him by Letters to desist, as Zonoras writeth: but hereby was he stirred so much the more, and de∣termined to chase away Basilius Bishop of Cesaria, because at his commaundement he would not communicate with Eudoxi∣us: but the Lord sent a disease to his onely sonne (who know∣ing it be Gods vengeance) turned him from his euill will, and certaine dayes he was an auditor of Basiles Sermons.

Athanasius after he had procured the good of the Church 46. yeares, and sustained many persecutions in great constan∣cie and patience, died about this time.

After his death, persecution in Egipt and Alexandria was mooued by Ʋalens, Hist. Trip. lib. 8. chap. 7.

Damasus a Spaniard (some write him to bee of Rome) the sonne of one called Antonius, succeeded Liberius: his elec∣tion [ 368] was turbulent and bloudie, because of a competitor hee had called Vrsin a Deacon of the Romane Church.

Hereby may you see a first fruite of the riches of the Church, and of the pretended donation of Constantine.

Of the writings of Damasus, see Suidas and Hierome in his Epistle ad Eustochium. Tome. 4. makes mention of Damasus. Of Virginitie saith hee, read the bookes of that Pope Damasus composed in verse and prose.

* 1.6He reuerenced the Sinode of Nice, and condemned Aux∣entius Bishop of Millan an Arrian. Theodor. lib. 4. chap. 30. saith that with S. Ambrose hee fought strongly against the Arrian heretikes, expresly condemning Sabellius, Arrius, Eunomius, the Macedonians, Photin, Marcellius, and the heresie of Apollina∣ris. Hierome writeth vnto him often, and in his Apologie a∣gainst Iouinian, he calleth Damasus a singular man, well in∣structed in the scriptures, and Doctor of the Virgin Church. Athanasius in his Epistle to the Bishops of Affrike, calleth Da∣masus his deare companion, praysing his diligence, that hee as∣sembled a Sinode at Rome against the Arrians. He was char∣ged to haue committed whoordome: whereof beeing accused by two of his Deacons, namely Concordius and Calitxtus, hee defended his cause in a full assembly of Bishoppes, and was absolued, and his accusers proscripted. Sabelli. Enu. 7. Lib. 9.

* 1.7There were many vertuous Monkes in this time, as Pau∣lus, Pior, Isidorus, Apsius, Pierius, Enagrius, Ammonius, &c. Hist. Trip. lib. 8. chap. 10. One of the Monkes said: that the Monke which laboured with his hands, was like a theefe.

Some were cruelly slaine by Valens, because they would not goe to warre.

* 1.8Anthonie of the age of an hundreth and fiue yeares, died at this time. Hee sawe in a Dreame as it were swine which destroyed and plucked downe Aultars with their feete: and when he awaked, hee said that the Church should bee once dissipated and wasted by whoremongers, adulterers, and men disguised.

P. Melancton noteth this Prophesie against the whoordome and voluptuos life of Priests and Monkes.

* 1.9Amongst other heretickes at this time, there was Pho∣tinus, Hebionite, Ennomius an Arrian, and Priscilian a Bishop in Spaine, who cōfounded the persons in the Trinitie. They which they called Donatists, said that Christ is lesse then the Father, and the holy Ghost lesse then the Sonne, and rebaptized the Catholiques.

The Luciferians and Apollinaries said that Christ receiued an humane body without a reasonable soule. The diuinity supply∣ing the place thereof.

Athalarike King of the Gothes, persecuted greatly the Ca∣tholiques against his owne people. [ 371]

The Burgonions gathered themselues together in number 80000. towards Rhene, which afterward receiued the faith. Paul. Diac.

In the Towne of Arras in the Countie of Artois, the 4. yeare of Ʋalentinian, fell wooll from Heauen with the rayne. Hierome in his Chronicle. Paul. Diac. and Orosius Lib. 7. Herman Gigas saith that it was in the third yeare of Ʋalen∣tinian.

For (Lana) some Historiographers haue set downe (Manna) wherefore yet at this day they of Arras vnluckily do worship it for the Manna of Heauen.* 1.10

The Hungarians cast themselues vpon the West Countrie [ 373] in great numbers.

The Arrians made burne and drowne many faithfull and Catholique people. Hist. Trip. lib. 8. chap. 2.

The Huns cast themselues vpon the westerne parts, and draue away the Gothes which were cōstrained to giue place and passe beyond Danubia, and came into Thrace, and from thence into Pannonie.

Ʋulphilas a Bishop of the Gothes in Sarmathia,* 1.11 translated the Bible into the Gothike tongue for the vse of his people. As Ie∣rome did into the Dalmatike for his people. And in Creatia, which is in the lower Pannonie, the Churches there and the Bi∣shops, vsed the scriptures translated into their vulgar tongue.

Auxentius an Arrian Bishop deceasing at Milan, there fell a great sedition betwixt the Arrians & the Catholiques, for the electiō of their Bishop The Proconsul his deputie then, was Ambrose a Citizen of Rome, who hearing such a noise,* 1.12 by reason of his office, went hastily to the Church where the peo∣ple were assembled, and after he had made many reasons to re∣duce the people to concord, suddenly rose there vp a common and an agreeing voyce, that Ambrose must needs be baptized

(who was yet a Catechumene) and after be consecrated Bishop, whervnto he would not consent, but by the commaundement of the Emperour Ʋalentinian who incited him therevnto, hee accepted the office. And then the Emperour gaue thankes to God that hee had called this person from the gouernment of the body, to the gouernment of soules.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Two kindes of Monkes.
• * 1.2

  Valentiniā.
• * 1.3

  Cenobites.
• * 1.4

  Anachirites. Remoboth.
• * 1.5

  Europe had not yet receiued Monkes.
• * 1.6

  Valens.
• * 1.7

  Monkes.
• * 1.8

  A Prophetike Dreame.
• * 1.9

  Heretikes.
• * 1.10

  Adolatrie at Arras.
• * 1.11

  Vulphilas Hist. Trip. lib. 8.
• * 1.12

  The electiō of S. Ambrose.