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. VII. Concerning the Virgin Theodosia, and concerning Domninus, and Auxentius, Martyrs.

MOreover, the fifth year of the persecution being now current, on the second day of the month Xanthicus, which is before the fourth of the Nones of April, a 1.1 on the very Lords day, the day of our Saviour's Resurrection, and also at Caesarea, Theodosia, a Virgin born at Tyre, one that was a believer and a most modest maid, not eighteen years old compleat, approach't some prisoners, (who were Confessours of the Kingdom of Christ, and sate before the b 1.2 Prae∣torium,) both to salute them amicably, and also (as 'tis probable) to request them that they would be mindfull of her when they came to the Lord. Having done this, as if she had committed some nefarious and impious fact, the Souldiers lay hold of her, and carry her before the President. He, in re∣gard he was a furious per∣son and one of a most cruel temper of mind, [ordered] that she should be cruciated with sharp and most horrid tortures, and that her sides and breasts [should be furrowed] to her very bones; [after this] breath being still left in her, having with a pleasant and chearfull countenance undergone all these tortures, by the Presidents command she was drowned in the Sea. After he had done with her, he went upon [the examination of] the other Confessours, all whom he condemned to the Brazen Mines at Phenos in Palestine. Furthermore, on the fifth day of the month Dius, that is (according to the Roman account) on the Nones of November, in the same City, to wit, Caesarea, the said Presi∣dent condemned Silvanus (who then was a Pres∣byter and a Confessor, but some small time after

was honoured with a Bishoprick, and happened to finish his life by Martyrdom) and some others that were his companions (after they had given demonstration of a most resolute courage and con∣stancy in behalf of Religion) to labour in the same mines of Brass; having first given order, that the flexures of their * 1.3 feet should be seared with a red hot iron, and so rendred infirm and useless. At the same time that this sentence was pronounced against them, he condemned Domninus (a man very famous for innumerable other con∣fessions, who for his singular freedom [in speak∣ing] was much taken notice of by all persons throughout Palestine) to be burnt alive. After he [had been thus punished,] the same Judge, (a crafty inventour of mischief, and one that stu∣died new devices and designes [to extirpate] the doctrine of Christ,) found out such sorts of pu∣nishments for the worshippers of God, as were never heard of before. He condemned three [and compelled them] to c 1.4 fight with one another in such a sort as the Champions usually did: Auxentius, a ve∣nerable and holy old man, was by him condemned to be de∣voured by the wild beasts. Again, he [gave order] that some, who were arrived to the compleat age and stature of men, should be cut and made Eunuchs, and then condemned them to the same Mines. He shut up others in Prison, after they had undergone the sharpest tortures. Amongst which number was Pamphilus, my dea∣rest companion, a person that was the most emi∣nent of all the Martyrs in our age for his singular virtue and piety: Urbanus first made tryall of his skill in Rhetorick and Philosophick literature, after that he compelled him to offer sacrifice; which when the Martyr refused to do, and [Ur∣banus] perceived that he despised his menaces, he was exceedingly exasperated, and gave order that he should be tormented with the acutest sorts of torture. Moreover, this most enraged * 1.5 man, (being in a manner satiated with the flesh of the Martyrs sides, which he [had caused to be torn off] with torturing irons, whereof he made a con∣tinued and reiterated use, pertinaciously desiring thereby to get the victory [over the Martyr] having after all these tortures, procured nothing but shame and ignominy for himself,) at length ordered him to be cast into Prison amongst the other Confessours therein confined. But, what sort of punishment this person (who after so fierce a manner insulted over the Martyrs of Christ,) was to expect, would be inflicted on him at the divine Tribunal, for his cruelty towards the Saints, is easily known from those beginnings [thereof which he underwent] in this life. Immediately after those audacious cruelties which he had practised towards Pamphilus, the divine vengeance forthwith seized him, whilst he was as yet possest of the Government. Which on a sudden, in one nights space, stript him (who but the day before sate as Judge upon a lofty Tribunal, was attended with a Military Guard, governed the whole Pro∣vince of Palestine; who also was companion to the Tyrant himself, for he was his chief favourite, and did usually eat at the same table with him) of all these great places and preferments, and re∣duced him to a disconsolate and helpless condition; clouded him with ignominy and shame in the sight of those very persons, who had formerly admired him as their Governour; proposed him to the whole Nation, over which he had been Ruler, as a miserable and dis-spirited wretch, pouring forth effeminate intreaties and supplications; and lastly, constituted Maximinus himself (of whose favour he had in former times bragged and boasted, having been dearly beloved by him by reason of the cruelties he practised towards us Christians) his inexorable and most severe Judge in the very City of Caesarea. For, after many reproaches, which he suffered upon account of those crimes, of which he was convict, the Emperour himself pronounc't sentence of death against him. But thus much we have said by the by. There may happen a seasonable opportunity, wherein we shall be more at leisure to relate the exits and calami∣tous deaths, by which those impious wretches, (especially Maximinus and those about him who were his advisers,) that were the greatest sticklers in the Persecution against 〈◊〉〈◊〉, finished their lives.

Notes

• a 1.1

  In the M. S. Acts of the pas∣sion of The∣odosia, she is said to have suf∣fered not on Easter-day, but only, on a Sunday. Vales.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; so the Greek words it. Christophorson renders it, ante tribunal considen∣tibus, sate before the tribunal: which version I do not approve of. I have rendred it, before the Praetorium; i. e. before the palace of the President. For those pri∣soners stood before his Palace, waiting, until the President (be∣fore whom they were to be brought) came forth to the tri∣bunal. This rendition is con∣firmed by the following words. Vales.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, flexures of their feet; that's the import of the Greek: Valesius renders it, pedum jun∣ctur••, the joynts of their feet.
• c 1.4

  See the following chapter; from whence we are informed, that those who were condemned to such combats, were delivered to the Procurators of Caesar, who caused them to practise and exer∣cise daily, that so at last they might be fit to engage in a combat. Vales.
• * 1.5

  ••rbanus.