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. XXV. Concerning the Tyrants Magnentius and Vetranio.

BUt in the interim a disturbance in no wise trivial seized the publick affaires of the Em∣pire. It is necessary that we should give a sum∣mary account only concerning it, by running over the chief heads thereof. When the * 1.1 Buil∣der of the City Constantinople was dead, his three Sons succeeded him in the Empire, as we have mentioned in our First Book. * 1.2 But you must know, that together with them reigned their Cousin-german, whose name was Dalmatius of the same name with his own Father. After he had been Colleague with them in the Empire some small time, the Souldiers slew him; Constantius nei∣ther b 1.3 commanding him to be murdered, nor yet for∣bidding it. After what man∣ner Constantinus Junior (in∣vading those parts of the Empire which belonged to his Brother,) was also slain in an engagement with the Souldiers, we have more than once mentioned * 1.4 be∣fore. After his slaughter, the Persian War was raised against the Romans, wherein Constantius performed no action that was fortunate. For, there hapning an c 1.5 Engage∣ment by night about the limits of the Romans and Persians, the latter seemed then for some little time to have been Conquerours. At the same time, the po∣sture of the Christians af∣faires was little less sedate: but upon Athanasius's ac∣count, and by reason of the term Homoöusios, there was a War throughout the Chur∣ches. During this state of affaires, there arose a Ty∣rant in the Western parts [of the Empire,] one Mag∣nentius. Who by treachery slew Constans the Emperour of the Western parts, residing at that time in the Gallia's. After which there was a mighty Civil War kindled. For the Tyrant Magnen∣tius conquered all Italy, he also reduced Africa and Libya under his own Dominion, and had possession even of the Gallia's. In Illyricum likewise, at the City Sirmium, another Tyrant was * 1.6 set up by the Souldiers; his name Vetranio. Moreover, Rome was involved in a disturbance. For d 1.7 Constantine had a Sisters Son, by name Nepotianus, who being guarded by a party of the Gladiatours, had by violence seized upon the Empire. This Nepotianus was slain by Magnen∣tius's Forces. But Magnentius himself invaded the rest of the Western Provinces, and made all places desolate.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Constan∣tine the Great.
• * 1.2

  The e∣mendation of this place (which is very corrupt in Robert Stephens's Edition) we own to the Allat. M. S. where the reading is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. i. e. But you must know, that together with them reigned their Cousen-german, whose name was Dalmatius of the same name with his own Father.] See Socrat. book 1. chap. 27. note (g.) The Florent. and Sfortian M. SS. alter not the Vulgar reading here. But the reading of the Allat. M. S. is evidently confirmed by Epiphanius Scholasticus's Version. Only he calls Dalmatius Constantiu••'s Cousin-german by the mother's side. But Dalmatius was Constantiu••'s Cousin-german by the Father's side; for he was son to Dalmatius, Constantine the Great's Brother. Vales.
• b 1.3

  Eutropius relates the same: Dalmatius Caesar (says he,) Haud multò post oppressus est factione Militari, Constantio patruele suo si••••n•••• potius quàm jubente: i. e. Not long after, Dalmatius Caesar was slain by a faction of the Soul∣diers, Constantius his Cosin-ger∣man by the Father's side suffering, rather than commanding, it. Vales.
• * 1.4

  See Socrat. book 2. chap. 5.
• c 1.5

  He means the fight by night be∣tween the Romans & Persians, at Singar, a sortress of Mesopotamia, wherein the son of Sapor King of Persia was slain: but the Romans had a very great slaughter made amongst them, as Amm. Marcellinus re∣lates, book 18. pag. 122. Edit. Paris. 1636. See Our Annota∣tions on that passage; pag. 1••6. This Engagement hapned in the year of Christ 348, when Phi∣lippus and Salias were Consuls; as Idatius relates, in his ••••st••. Vales.
• * 1.6

  Or crept up by the Souldiers means.
• d 1.7

  In the Greek the reading is [Constan∣tius had a Sister's Son, &c.] But it must be [Constantine had▪ &c.] For Nepotianus was Son to Eutropia Con∣stantin's Sister; as Victor tells us, in his Epitome: and, as we are informed by Eutropiu••▪ Epiphanius Scholasticus's reading agrees with our emendation; but he mistakes in calling Nepotianus [••ra∣tru••lem Constant••ni▪ i. e. Constantin's Brothers Son,] in regard he was his Sisters Son. Vales.