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. XXII. Concerning Jovianus's being Proclaimed Empe∣rour.

THe Roman Army, reduced to the greatest streight imaginable, without delay, on the day after, Proclaim Jovianus Emperour, a per∣son

couragious and nobly descended. He being Tribune of the Souldiers, * 1.1 when Julianus by pub∣lishing of an Edict, gave the Souldiers their choice, whether they would sacrifice, or leave their Military Employments; chose rather to lay down his Commission, then obey the com∣mand of the impious Emperour. But Julianus, necessitated thereto by the then imminent War, had continued him in Commission, amongst his chief Commanders. Being at that time Elected to the Empire, he refused it. And when he was forcibly drawn forth by the Souldiers, he cried out, saying, that being himself a Christian, he would not reign over men firmly addicted to Gen∣tilisme. But, after all of them with one voice answe∣red, professing that they also were Christians, he ac∣cepted of the Empire. Moreover, in regard he was on a sudden left in very great streights † 1.2 in an Ene∣mies Country, and his men being destroyed by a Famine, upon terms he put an end to the War. The conditions were indeed misbecoming the Roman glory: but they were necessary in that conjuncture. For, being punished with the loss of the a 1.3 Borders of the Empire, and having surrendred Nicibis (a City in Mesopotamia,) to the Persians, he depar∣ted out of Persia. At the relation of these things the Christians were encouraged b 1.4: But the Pagans bewailed Julianus's death. Further, the whole Army blamed his imprudent heat and rashness, and ascribed the disgrace of the loss of their Bor∣ders to him; because, being imposed upon by a Persian desertour, he had burnt the Ships, which supplied them with provision by water, where∣upon the Army was reduced to a great extremity by a Famine. Further, at that time Libanius the Sophista composed a Funeral Oration upon Ju∣lian, which he entitled Julianum, or The Epitaph. In which Oration he does at large recite and extol almost all his Actions: he has also mentioned the Books which Julian wrote against the Christians, wherein he says, the Emperour has demonstra∣ted the Books of the Christians to be ridiculous, and stuft with trifles. Had it sufficed this Sophista, to have commended the Emperours other Actions only, I should quietly have proceeded to the fol∣lowing part of my History. But whenas, being a sharp Oratour, by mentioning Julians Books he does enveigh against the Christian Religion; for this reason we are resolved to speak something concerning this matter: and in the first place we will produce his own words.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See Chap. 13.
• † 1.2

  Or, in the Country of the Per∣sians.
• a 1.3

  In the o∣riginal, the reading is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, For, being pu∣nished with the loss of the domini∣on over the Syrians:] which rea∣ding is re∣tained in all our co∣ples. A∣greeable to which is Epiphanius Scholasti∣cus's Ver∣sion; who renders it thus: A∣missâ nam∣que Syriâ, & traditâ Persis Ni∣sibi, For having lost Syria, and surrendred Nicibis to the Persians: And Niccphorus words this passage thus: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c, Moreover, surrendring some places to the Persians, that were tributary to the Romans, I mean the Government of the Syrians, and Nisibis in Mesopotamia. But, Jo∣vianus surrendred not Syria to the Persians. He gave them Nisibis only, and the Countries beyond the Tigris. Wherefore, I doubt not, but instead of [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Syrians] it should be [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Borders of the Empire;] and accordingly we have rendred it. Than which emendation, there is nothing more certain. Socrates him∣self confirms it, who speaking concerning this matter a little after, in this chapter, says thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and ascribed the disgrace of the loss of the Borders to him. Vales.
• b 1.4

  Between these two words [encouraged] and [death,] there was wanting in the printed Copies of Socrates this whole line [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, But the Pagans be∣wailed Julianus's;] which we have inserted from the Florent, and S••or∣tian M. SS. Further, from this very one place 'tis evident, that Christo∣phorson made use of no M. S. copies, in his translation of Socrates. Vales.