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.

b 1.1 OUT OF PHILEAS'S EPISTLE TO THE THMUITAE.

All these Examples, Prescripts, and good Do∣cuments being deposited for us in the divine and sacred Scriptures, the blessed Martyrs, who were conversant amongst us, without any delay manifestly fixed the eye of their mind upon the supream God, and willingly embracing death upon account of piety, they steadfastly adhered to their calling: for they found that our Lord Jesus Christ had been incarnate for us, that he might abolish all manner of sin, and provide us with assistances for our entrance into life eternal. For * 1.2 he thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no repu∣tation, and took the form of a servant: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself unto death, even the death of the Cross. Wherefore the Martyrs (who were c 1.3 full of Christ) zealous∣ly affecting the best gifts, endured all manner of sor∣row, and all sorts of tor∣tures that could be invented, not onely once, but some of them a second time also. And when the Souldiers that were of the guard endeavou∣red with much earnestness [to strike a terrour] into them, not onely by all manner of menaces in words, but by deeds, they were in no wise discouraged in mind, because * 1.4 perfect love casteth out fear. Whose fortitude and courage under each torture what words would be sufficient to relate? For, free leave being granted to all per∣sons that would be injurious towards them, some beat them with clubs, others with rods; other∣some with scourges: again, some scourged them with thongs of leather; others with ropes: And the spectacle of these tortures was vari∣ously enterchanged, and full of malicious cruel∣ty. For some [of the Martyrs] having their hands bound behind them, were hung at an d 1.5 Engin of wood, and e∣very member of their bo∣dies was distended by cer∣tain machines. After that, the Tormentours, by com∣mand [of the Judge,] made use of e 1.6 iron-nailes to torture them with all o∣ver their bodies, which were applied not onely to their sides, as Murtherers are usu∣ally tormented, but also to their bellies, their legs, and to their cheeks. Others, being lifted up, were hung by one hand at a * 1.7 Gallery, the stretching of whose joynts and members was a sharper pain to them than all sorts of tortures. Others were bound face to face to Pillars, their feet not touching the ground; that so their bonds being strained by the heaviness of their bodies, might with stretching be the clo∣ser drawn together: and this they endured not only as long as the Governour talked with them, and was at leisure to hear them; but almost a whole day together: for when he went away [to hear] others, he left f 1.8 Officers, that were impowred by him, to be watchfull over the for∣mer [Martyrs,] whether any one of them, being overcome by the sharpness of his tortures, would seem to abandon his resolution. He also commanded they should be g 1.9 strained with bonds without any commisera∣tion, and afterwards, when they were dead, that they should be thrown on the ground, and drag'd up and down. For they ought not [he said] to take the least care of us; but that all persons should so think of, and behave themselves towards us, as if we were not men. This h 1.10 second torture (after they had beaten us with stripes) our Adversaries invented. There were some also, who after they had been scourged, lay in the i 1.11 stocks, both their feet be∣ing stretched to the fourth hole; in so much that they were forced to lie in the stocks with their bellies upwards, being unable to stand because of their fresh wounds, caused by the stripes, which they had all over their bodies. Others threw themselves upon the ground, where they lay by reason of the innu∣merable wounds made by their tortures; yield∣ing a more miserable spectacle to those that lookt on them, than in the very time of their being tortured; and bearing in their bodies the various and different sorts of tortures invented for them. These things being thus performed, some [of the Martyrs] expired under their tortures, having made the adversary ashamed by their persevering constancy. Others, being half dead, were shut up in prison, where having been sorely afflicted with the smart of their wounds, they ended their lives not many days after. The residue having been refreshed with methods of cure, became more stout and con∣fident by time, and their abode in prison. There∣fore, when afterwards command was given, that they should choose, whether by touching the detestable sacrifices they would free themselves from all molestation, and obtain from them an execrable liberty; or whether, refusing to sacri∣fice, they would receive the sentence of death: without any delay they chearfully proceeded forth to death. For they well knew what was before prescribed to us by the sacred Scriptures: for * 1.12 he (says the word of God) that sacri∣ficeth to other Gods, shall be utterly destroyed. And again, † 1.13 Thou shalt have no other Gods, but me.

Such were the expressions of [Phileas] the Martyr, (a true Philosopher, and also a sincere lover of God,) which he sent to the Brethren of his Church, before his last sentence of condemna∣tion, being yet in prison: whereby he informed them both in what condition he was in; and also exhorted them stifly to retain their piety in Christ after his death, which was now approaching. k 1.14 But what need we spend many words in relating

the conflicts of the divine Martyrs over the whole world (whose new combats were succeeded by other conflicts that were as new;) and especially when as they were assaulted not in an ordinary way, but in an hostile manner?

Notes

• b 1.1

  These words should be Printed in Capital Letters. In the Kings M. S. they are disjoyned from the Text: In the Med. M. S. they are plac'd in the Margin: but in the Fuk▪ and Savil. M. SS. they are omitted. Vales.
• * 1.2

  Phil. 2. 7, 8.
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. Martyrs full of Christ: so Ignatius Bishop of Antioch, was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. full of God. Vales.
• * 1.4

  1 John. 4. 18.
• d 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I suppose he means the Eculeus; on which Offenders were hung, and had their sides torn with iron-nailes. Vales.
• e 1.6

  '〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (the term here) seems to signifie some thing more than iron-nailes. For Hesychius interprets 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a two-edged sword. Note here the cruelty of the Judges; who were not contented with iron-nailes onely, but used knives also, or razours, with which they cut the sides of the Martyrs. Vales.
• * 1.7

  '〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies, a Porch, Gallery, or walking place under-propped with Pillars; in such Philosophers taught and disputed: the Stoicks had their name from hence: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• f 1.8

  He means the Apparitours or Officers, who were under the Praefectus Augustalis; concerning whom Phileas speaks in this Epistle, and calls him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Governour. The name of the Praesectus Augustalis at that time was Hierocles, as Epiphanius says, in Haeres. Melitian. Vales.
• g 1.9

  The phrase in the original is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; which to me seems a new and uncouth ex∣pression. Vales.
• h 1.10

  That is, the drag∣ging of the bodies up and down: the first sort of torture was by stripes and scourges; the second was, that they were laid on the ground▪ drag'd about, and so drawn into prison. Vales.
• i 1.11

  See B. 4. Chap. 16. note (c.)
• * 1.12

  Exod. ••2. 20.
• † 1.13

  Exod. 20. 3.
• k 1.14

  After these words Christophorson has inserted many Chapters, out of that Appendix which Robert Stephens has published at the latter end of this Eighth Book. But that Appendix is an entire Book, and separated from this work, to wit, the Ecclesiastick History; in which Eusebius describes the suf∣ferings of the Palestine Martyrs, and especially the passion of his friend Pamphilus. Some studious person added this book to the eighth book of the Ecclesiastick History, because their Subjects were very like; whose Copy the Transcribers afterwards following, placed it in their Copies. In all the M. SS. which I could ever yet see, this book is extant after the end of B. 8. in such manner as Robert Stephens publish't it. Chri∣stophorson therefore did ill, and contrary to the authority of all Copies, to put this book in here, as if it had been part of the Eighth book of the Ecclesiastick History. Musculus was more prudent, who (fol∣lowing Stephens's Edition in his Version) translated the eighth book as he found it in the Greek, and wholly omitted this Appendix: which neither Ru••••nus, nor Nicephorus seem to have found in their Copies. Besides, the Titles of the Chapters of Book 8. (which, as usually, are prefixt before it) were sufficient to have put Christophorson in mind, that this Appendix did in no wise belong to the Eighth Book. Vales.