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. II. How Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia with his ac∣complices, earnestly indeavouring to introduce Arius's opinion again, made disturbances in the Churches.

THe Emperour Constantine being dead, Euse∣bius [Bishop] of Nicomedia, and The∣ognis Bishop of Nice, supposing they had now gotten a very seasonable opportunity, made use of their utmost diligence and attempts to expell the * 1.1 Homoüsian faith, and introduce Arianism in its stead. a 1.2 But they [sup∣posed] it impossible for them to effect this, if Atha∣nasius should return [to A∣lexandria.] Moreover, in order to their forming and carrying on of their de∣sign in this matter, they made use of that Presbyters assistance, who had a little before been the cause of Arius's being recalled from banishment. But, how this was effected, we must relate. That Presbyter [we have mentioned] presented Con∣stantines last will and commands, which he had received from the Emperour at his death, to the Emperours son Constantius. He having found that written in the Will which he was very

desirous of; (for by the Will the Empire of the East was committed to him) had an hono∣rary respect for the Presbyter, allowed him a great liberty of speaking, and ordered he should freely and with confidence come into the Palace. This liberty therefore being allowed [the Pres∣byter,] made him in a short time well known both to the Empress, and also to her Eunuches. The principal person of the Emperours Bed-chamber at that time was an Eunuch, whose name was Eusebius. The Presbyter perswaded this person to embrace Arius's opinion. After which, the rest of the Eunuches were prevailed with to be of the same opinion. Moreover, the Emperours wife also, by the perswasion of the Eunuches and this Presbyter, became a favourer of Arius's Tenets. Not long after, this question came to [the hearing of] the Emperour himself. And by degrees it was spread abroad, first amongst b 1.3 those that were of the milice in the Palace; and afterwards it was divulged amongst the multitudes of the [Imperial] City. Those of the Bed-chamber toge∣ther with the women dis∣coursed concerning this o∣pinion in the Imperial Pa∣lace: and in the City, throughout every private family, there was a logi∣cal war waged. Moreover, the mischief soon spread its self over other Pro∣vinces and Cities. And (like a spark) this con∣troversie taking its rise from a small beginning, excited the hearers minds to a most pertinacious contention. For every person that enquired the reason of the disturbance, immediately had an occasion of disputing given him; and at the very interim of his making an enquiry, he re∣solved upon entring into a wrangling dispute. By this contention all things were subverted. These [alterations] were started in the Ea∣stern Cities only. For the Cities of Illyricum, and those [scituated] in the Western parts [of the Empire] were in that interim at quiet: for they would by no means disanull the determina∣tions made at the Nicene Synod. When there∣fore this mischief, thus kindled, increased and grew daily worse and worse, Eusebius of Nico∣media and his faction began then to think the disturbance of the Vulgar to be their gain. For [they were in hopes] of being enabled by this means only, to constitute a Bishop of Alex∣andria, that should be of the same opinion with them. But Athanasius's return at that time to Alexandria prevented this their design, who came thither fortified with one of the Augustus's Letters, which Constantinus the younger (who bore the same name with his Father) sent from Triers a City in Gallia to the people of Alex∣andria. [A Copy of] which Letter I have here subjoyned.

Notes

• * 1.1

  That is, the faith that pro∣fessed Christ to be of the same substance or essence with the Father.
• a 1.2

  This place is imperfect, and faulty. It may be made good not incommodiously, thus; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; but they understood that they could not effect this, if Athanasius should return. Vales.
• b 1.3

  Christophorson rendred these words [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] thus, Imperatoris satellites, the Emperours guards: which is ill translated. For by this term all the Palatini are meant; not only the Protectores, the domestici, and the rest of the Scholares, (see Valesius's notes on Amm. Marcellin. pag. 31. &c.) but the Ministeriani, and Scri∣niarii also. For this was termed the Palatine Milice. Vales.