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.

A Copy of the Emperour [Constantine's] Rescript, by which he summoneth a Synod of Bishops at Rome, for the uniting and re∣conciling of the Churches.

Constantinus Augustus, to Miltiades Bishop of

Rome, and to f 1.1 Mark. In regard several such g 1.2 Libels as these have been sent me from the most Eminent Anulinus, Proconsul of Africa, wherein 'tis declared that Cecilianus Bishop of the City of h 1.3 Carthage is accused of many things by some of his Collegues ordained [Bishops] throughout Africa: and this matter seeming not a little grievous to us, that in those very Provinces (which the providence of God delivered to our sacredness by a i 1.4 voluntary surrender, and where there is a great multitude of people) the populace being in a manner divided, should be found to degenerate and become worse, and differences should be nourished even amongst Bishops: It seemed good to us, that Cecilianus himself (together with ten Bishops his supposed Accusers, and ten other Bishops, whom he shall judge necessary in behalf of his cause,) sail to Rome; that there in your presence, and also in the presence of Reticius, Maternus, and Marinus your Collegues, (whom for this reason we have com∣manded to hasten to Rome) he may be heard in such manner as, you know, is most agreeable with the most sacred Law. Moreover, that you may have a most compleat and perfect knowledge of all these things, we have subjoyned to this our Rescript Copies of the Libels which were sent to us by Anulinus, and have transmitted them to your aforesaid Collegues. Which Libels when your Gravity shall have read, you shall deliberate how the aforesaid controversie may with the greatest accuracy be examined, and determined according to equity. For it is not unknown to your Assi∣duity that we bear so great a Reve∣rence * 1.5 to the most Legitimate Catholick Church, that we would have you leave no Schisme or dissension at all in any part of it. The Divinity of the supream God pre∣serve you (k 1.6 Dearest) many years.

Notes

• f 1.1

  It is much con∣troverted amongst the Lear∣ned who this Mark is, whom Constantine here joyn∣eth with Miltiades Bishop of Rome. Ba∣ronius, at the year of Christ 313. Chap. 23. thinks the Text of Fasebius is faulty, and instead of [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] he would read [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.] But this e∣mendation cannot be admitted of, for whereas Miltiades is before call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Bishop, tis superfluous to adde 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, sa∣cred Magi∣strate. Moreover, Titles of honour are common words, but this here is an affected and unusual term Wherefore, rejecting this conjecture of Baronius's, I think this Mark was a Presbyter of the Church of Rome, whom Constantine had a desire should be present at this Synod with Miltiades. This also I think was that Mark who was Bishop of Rome after Silvester. This Epistle of Constantine to Miltiades was extant in the third Con∣ference at Carthage; Chap. 319. But the latter part of this third Conference, which in my opinion is the most useful, is lost. Vales.
• g 1.2

  By 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 are meant two Libels, which contained the faults of Cecilianus Bishop of Carthage, which being subscribed by the faction of Majorinus, they gave them to Anulinus the Proconsul at Carthage on the 17^th of the Calends of May. Constantine the Empe∣rour being the third time, and Licinius the third time Consuls. These Libels Constantine calls [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,] because they contained in them many papers, and many publick Acts, to prove the faults of Cecilianus. Christoph. calls these 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Epistles but that is an ill term: for there was but one Epistle sent by Anulinus to Constantine the Emperour, but there were several 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or papers. Constantine also a little further calls them Libelli: so does Augustine also, in his 48 Epistle to Vin∣centius, call it Libellus: and saies it was thus superscribed; The Libell of the Catholick Church containing the faults of Cecilianus, put in by the faction of Majorinus. Vales.
• h 1.3

  In our Text it is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; in Niceph. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; in the Maz. and Med. M. SS. 'tis written 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by a trans∣position of the aspirate, which the Greeks usually do in turning Latine p••oper names into Greek. Vales.
• i 1.4

  Instead of [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] we should undoubtedly read [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] in this place, thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (i. e.) (those Countries which Divine Providence gave into our hands by a voluntary surrender.) For when the head of Maxentius was sent into Africa, all Africa at the sight of the Tyrant's head, yielded to Constantine. And also before the over∣throw of Maxentius some African Cities yielded themselves volun∣tarily to Constantine, when he sent some Sea-forces thither. Vales.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• k 1.6

  Instead of [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] the reading in Nicephorus is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, dearest] in the plural number. For since the Rescript was writ∣ten to Miltiades Bishop of Rome, and to Mark, and since he always speaks to them in the plural number; 'tis reasonable that in the close of the Rescript it should be [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.] Further, the Acts of this Synod at Rome are extant in Optatus, B. 1. The Authour of the Synodicon (whom we have often quoted) says this Synod was con∣vened by Miltiades and Mark at Rome; he joyns Mark to Miltiades, as soon as he perceived from this Rescript that Constantine mentioned them joyntly. Vales.