The history of the church from our Lords incarnation, to the twelth year of the Emperour Maricius Tiberius, or the Year of Christ 594 / as it was written in Greek, by Eusebius Pamphilius ..., Socrates Scholasticus, and Evagrius Scholasticus ... ; made English from that edition of these historians, which Valesius published at Paris in the years 1659, 1668, and 1673 ; also, The life of Constantine in four books, written by Eusibius Pamphilus, with Constantine's Oration to the convention of the saints, and Eusebius's Speech in praise of Constantine, spoken at his tricennalia ; Valesius's annotations on these authors, are done into English, and set at their proper places in the margin, as likewise a translation of his account of their lives and writings ; with two index's, the one, of the principal matters that occur in the text, the other, of those contained in the notes.

CHAP. V. Concerning Potamiaena.

LEt Basilides be reckoned the seventh among these, who lead the most renown'd Potamiae∣na to Execution, concerning which woman, even yet there is a famous report amongst the inhabi∣tants of those Countries, for that she combated many times with her lovers, in defence of the chastity and virginity of her body; for which she was famous: (for besides the vigour of her mind, there flourisht in her a comliness of body:) who, having suffer'd many things for her faith in Christ, at last after grievous Torments and hor∣rible to be related, was together with her mother Marcella consumed by fire. Moreover they say that the Judge, (whose name was a 1.1 Aquila,) after he had inflicted grievous stripes upon every part of her body, threatned at last he would deliver her to the b 1.2 Gladiatours to abuse her body. But she (having con∣sidered of the matter some short time,) being asked what her determination was, return'd [they say] such an answer, as thereby she seem'd to speak some thing which was accounted impious amongst them. Forthwith therefore she receiv'd the de∣finitive sentence [of the Judge,] and Basilides one of the Military Apparitors, took and lead her to Execution: but when the multitude endeavour'd to molest and reproach her with obscene words, he prohibited them, c 1.3 thrust∣ing away them who re∣proach'd her, shewing much commiseration, and huma∣nity towards her. She taking in good part the mans com∣miseration shown towards her, exhorts him to be of good courage, for when she was gone hence she would entreat her Lord for him, and within a little while she would make him a requital for what he had done for her. When she had spoken these things, they say she valiantly underwent death, hot scalding pitch being leisurely, and by little and little poured upon all the several mem∣bers of her body, from the sole of the foot, to the crown of the head; such was the combat fought by this famous virgin. But not long after▪ Ba∣silides upon some occasion being desir'd by his fellow-soldiers to swear, avouch'd twas not law∣full for him to swear at all; for he was a Chri∣stian, and he openly confess'd it: at first they thought he onely spake in jest; but when he con∣stantly maintain'd it, he is brought before the Judge, and after he had made profession of his stedfastness before him, he was put into bonds: And when some of the brethren in the Lord came to him, asking him what was the cause of this sudden, and unexpected change, he is repor∣ted to have said, that Potamiaena, three days after her Martyrdom, stood by him in the night, put a crown about his head, and said, she had entreated the Lord for him, and had obtain'd her request: And within a little while the Lord would take him upto himself. After these things the brethren imparted to him the d 1.4 Seal of the Lord, and the day after, being famous for his testimony of the Lord, he was beheaded; they relate, that many more throughout Alexandria came thick at that time to the doctrine of Christ; to▪wit, such as Potamiaena had appear'd to in their sleep, and e 1.5 invited them to be converted to the Gospel: But for these things let thus much suffice.

Notes

• a 1.1

  This Aquila was Gover∣nour of Aegypt, as Euscbius be∣fore relates in the 3^d Chapter: at which time Origen was in the eighteenth year of his age. Vales.
• b 1.2

  The Gladiators were com∣monly noted to be lascivious wicked men; therefore Aquila threatned to deliver her to them, thinking she, who had such spe∣cial care of her chastity, would rather revolt from her faith, then hazard the purity of her bo∣dy, by being put into their power.
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 properly signifies to fright birds away, but here, as also in Demosthenes, it signifies to thrust aside out of the way, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Demost.
• d 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Euse∣bius means Baptism.
• e 1.5

  Rufinus translates this place so as to make Potamiaena Origen's scholar; neither dare we con∣tradict him in that. For although Eusebius does not mention it particularly, yet we may gather so much from this his narration; for, reckoning up the Martyrs which were of Origen's School, he adds to them Basilides and Potamiaena; whence 'tis collected these two also were his disciples; and though we cannot for certain say Basilides was, yet 'tis probable Potamiaena might be one of them. Vales.