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. XV. How Marinus was Martyred at Caesarea.

A General peace being at this time restored to the Churches in Caesarea of Palestine, Ma∣rinus, a man honoured with a a 1.1 Military dignity, and eminent for descent and riches, was beheaded for his confession of Christ, upon this account. There is a certain dignity amongst the Romans termed the b 1.2 Vine, which those that obtained, are said to be made Centurions; c 1.3 this place being vacant, Marinus, whose course in order it was, was called to that promoti∣on: when he was forthwith to have been invested in that dignity, there came another before the Tribu∣nal, and accused him, saying, it was unlawful according to the old Laws, for him to hold any dignity amongst the Romans; for he was a Christian, and did not sacrifice to the Emperours; therefore the Office belonged to him. d 1.4 Achaeus, (for that was the name of the Judge) being en∣raged at this, first asked Marinus what Opinion he was of: then when he saw that he stedfastly confessed himself to be a Christian, he granted him three hours respit for deliberation. When he was gone out of the place of judicature Theotecnus the Bishop of that City coming to him; taketh him aside to discourse with him; and laying hold of his hand, leads him to the Church; wherein when he had placed him at the very Altar, he put his e 1.5 Cloak a little aside, and shewed him the sword wherewith he was girded, and also brought the Book of the Sacred Gospels and placed it right against him, bidding him on his own accord to take which of those two best pleased him. When Marinus without any delay had put forth his right hand, and taken up the Sacred Book, Theotecnus said unto him, adhere therefore, adhere to God; and being impowered by him thou shalt obtain what thou hast chosen; go in peace. Immediately as he returned from the Church, the Cryer, who stood before the Tribunal, called him; for the time al∣lotted him was now accomplished: When he was brought before the place of judicature, and had shewed a greater courage in the confession of the Faith then he did before, immediately he was halled away to Execution, and was f 1.6 Crowned with Martyrdom.

Notes

• a 1.1

  He means the Cohor∣talis Militia, as may be collected from what follows. For mention is made of Achaeus the Judge, of the Forum, &c. Which could not be spoken of the Militia Ca∣strensis. Had the Camp-milice been spoken of here, Marinus must have pleaded his cause before the Ca∣ptain, or Deputy of Coesar. The ordinary Judges had their Centu∣rions and Cornicularii in their Court. Yea, almost all the names of the Officers under them were taken from the Camp-milice, as Asconius Pedianus has remark't. Vales.
• b 1.2

  The phrase in the original is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] which we have ren∣dred [The Vine.] It was enacted by a Law amongst the Ro∣mans, that no Citizen should be beaten with rods, but with Vines▪ See Livy, in his 57 Book: upon this account the Souldiers were by the Centurions beaten with Vines; whence at last the Vine came to be the badge of the Centurions Office. Spartianus (in the life of Hadrian) uses it in this sense; and so does Plutarch in Galba.
• c 1.3

  In the Maz. Fuk. and Med. M. SS. there is a stop here; but in the Kings M. S. there is none; which punctation in the three M. SS. first named, Salmasius (in his notes on Spartianus) defends against Ca∣saubon, (in his notes on the same Authour,) who thought that the Vine was a badge which denoted those that were to be chosen Centurions, who should bear that Office, when there was a place vacated. And therefore Casaubon read this passage thus [There is a certain dignity amongst the Romans termed the Vine, which those that obtain are said to be made Centurions when there is a place vacant:] which reading agrees with the Kings M. S. But Salmasius makes a stop (as we do) at the word [Centurions,] which doubtless is the truest reading: See note (b) in this chapter. Vales.
• d 1.4

  That was the Judges name; so a famous Captain was called, who here∣tofore re∣belled a∣gainst An∣tiochus, as Polybius relates. This A∣chaeus was president of Pale∣stine, and had his re∣sidence at Caesarea, which was the chief City of that whole Pro∣vince. Vales.
• e 1.5

  We read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; which is a common, but an Er∣roneous reading. The Chlamys and the Balteus (i. e. the Cloak and the Belt) were military badges, as may be proved from innumerable places in Chrysostom, Libanius, and others. Vales.
• f 1.6

  The term here is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] i. e. he was perfected by Mar∣tyrdom. For Martyrs were initiated by confession, and perfected by death; as Dionysius phrases it at the end of Chap. 11. in this book. Clemens Alexandrinus (in B. 4. Stromat. pag. 206.) gives another reason, why Martyrdom is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because it demonstrates the perfection of love. Vales.