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. XII. Concerning the Prelates of the Churches.

BUt, what happened to be done in relation to the Prelates of Churches, a 1.1 during this in∣terval of time, and afterwards; how, instead of being continued Pastours of Christ's rational flock, which they had not rightly and duly go∣verned, divine justice, judging them as it were fit for such Offices, condemned them to be imployed in looking after b 1.2 Camels, a brutish sort of crea∣tures, whose bodies are naturally crooked and mis-shapen; and how it adjudged them to be keepers of the Emperours horses; also, what and how great injuries, dishonours, and tortures they suffered from such as during those times were the Emperours Procuratours, and Governours of Provinces, upon account of the sacred vessels and treasures belonging to the Church; moreover, the ambitious desires of many, the inconsiderate and illegal ordinations, and the schismes amongst the c 1.3 Confessours themselves; besides, what those modern raisers of disturbances with much earnest∣ness attempted against the remaines of the Church, introducing innovations successively one after ano∣ther, being without intermission authours of evils even in the midst of the calamities caused by the persecution, and heaping mischiefs upon mischiefs: all this [I say] I think fit to omit, a relation hereof being in my judgment inconvenient, and which (as I said in the d 1.4 beginning of this book) I do altogether dislike, and am resolved to avoid. Supposing it therefore to be most accommodate for an history concerning the admirable Martyrs, to speak, write, and instill into the ears of be∣lievers what ever is of importance to, and com∣mendable in, our Religion, and those passages which are virtuous and praiseworthy, I thought good to adorn the close of this book with [a re∣lation of] that peace, which afterwards appeared to us from heaven.

Notes

• a 1.1

  These words are very ob∣scure. Christo∣phorson thought they were to be understood concerning the time of the persecution; I am not of his mind. For Eusebius speaks concerning what hap∣pened, when the fury of the persecution was in some measure abated. Therefore [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] signifies postea, afterwards; according to Eusebius's usual way of expressing himself, both in other places, and also hereafter in this chapter. The following words [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] denote the whole interval of time from the beginning of the persecution to its seventh year, as Eusebius informs us in the follow∣ing chapter. Vales.
• b 1.2

  It was a sort of pu∣nishment amongst the Ro∣mans, that free-men (i. e. those that were free of Rome) should be condem∣ned to look after the Emperours horses and camels, and to such like offices. This em∣ployment was called Camelasia, and it is reckoned amongst the person∣all offices, in the Pan∣dects (Tit. de muner. & Honor.) Although in that place of the Pan∣dects, the Emperours Camels are not spoken of, but those Camels are meant belonging to every City, which were used to fetch wood and other burthens; as ap∣pears from the 18^th Law, in the said Title. But Eusebius does here speak of the Emperours Horses and Camels, to the feeding whereof some Bishops were condemned. Now, there is a great difference between these two Offices. For the former was a civil Office, to which the Decurions of the white Order were promoted, as 'tis said in the fore∣quoted Law. But the latter was a penal servitude, to which crimi∣nals were condemned, as may be collected from Eusebius's words here. Moreover, these Camelarii (keepers of Camels) were under his care and dispose, that was the Comes rei privatae, (i. e. the Trea∣surer of the Privy purse to the Emperour; see Vales. notes on Amm. Marcell. Book 22. pag. 207.) under whom were the Masters of the flocks, and of the stables; as appears from the Notitia Imperii Romani. See the Acts of Marcellus the Pope. Vales.
• c 1.3

  He means the Schism between Meletius Lycopolitanus and Peter Bishop of Alexandria; concerning which see Athanasius and Epipha∣nius. He means also Donatus's Schisme in Africa, against Caecilianus the Bishop. Vales.
• d 1.4

  The place Eusebius here speaks of is not to be found in this book. Whence 'tis apparent, that this book, concerning the Martyrs of Pale∣stine, is imperfect. Any body may perceive that the beginning of it is wanting. But this defect may be made up from chap. 2. book 8. of the Ecclesiastick History, where Eusebius says that, which he men∣tions here, as spoken of before by himself. Vales.