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. XXIV. That the Bishops flockt from all places to Jovianus, every one of them hoping they should induce him to embrace their own Creed.

AFter Jovianus's return out of Persia, the Ec∣clesiastick commotions were again renewed. For the Prelates of the Churches made it their business to prevent one another, each of them ex∣pecting, that the Emperour would give his assent to their Creed. But he had from the beginning adhered to the Homoöusian Faith; and openly declared, that he preferred that Creed before all others. And by his Letters he encourages A∣thanasius Bishop of Alexandria, who immediately after Julianus's death, had recovered the Alex∣andrian Church. But, being then made more con∣fident and couragious by the Emperours Letters, he was freed from fear on all hands. The Em∣perour likewise recalled those Bishops, who had been banished by Constantius, and had not pro∣cured their own revocation by Julianus. More∣over, all the Heathen Temples were then shut up. And [the Daemon Priests] themselves abscon∣ded, some in one place, some in another. The * 1.1 Philosopers also laid aside their Palliums, and cloathed themselves in the common and ordinary habit. Likewise, that a 1.2 Publick pollution caused by the bloud [of sacrifices,] which they had celebrated in Julianus's Reign even to loath∣somness, was then taken away.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Pal∣lium-wea∣rers.
• a 1.2

  He seems to mean the Tauro∣bolia and Criobolia, after the undertaking whereof, the Pagans be∣lieved they were eternally regenerated; as the old inscriptions in∣form us. This whole ceremony is incomparably well described at large by Prudentius; in the passion of Romanus the Martyr; pag. 255, &c. Edit. Basil. It was in short thus: The Priest to be consecrated, being habited in his sacerdotal Vestments, (adorned with a Crown of Gold and wrapt about with a silken Gown,) was put into a deep Pit dug into the earth. Over this Pit an Altar ••ade of planks was erected, through which many holes were boared. upon this Altar a great Bull was laid, adorned with Garlands; and his horns were guilded: his breast they divided with a consecrated Weapon. A stream of recking bloud gushing immediately out of the large wound, flowed upon the boarded Altar, and running through the holes made therein, rained down upon the Priest inclosed under the boards; who catcht the shower of gore by putting his head under the falling drops; wherewith he besmeared his garments, and his whole body. See Prudentius, ut supr••.