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. XXXI. Concerning Valentinianus's death.

BUt after this, when the Sarmatae made incur∣sions into the Roman Territories, the Em∣perour undertook an expedition against them, at the head of a vast Army. The Barbarians, informed of these great preparations for a War, and being sensible of their own inability to make a resistance, sent an Embassy to the Em∣perour, and requested that they might obtain a Peace upon certain conditions. When the Em∣bassadours were introduced into the Emperours presence, and appeared to him to be * 1.1 vile and despicable fellows, he asked, whether all-the Sar∣matae were such sort of persons. The Embassa∣dours made answer, that the noblest personages of † 1.2 their whole Nation were come to him; where∣upon Valentinianus was highly incensed, and cry∣ing out with a very loud voice, said; that he was very unfortunate to have the Roman Empire de∣volve upon him, when such a Nation of Barba∣rians, so vile and contemptible, was not satisfied to continue in safety within its own limits; but would take up Arms, ‖ 1.3 depopulate the Roman Territories, and audaciously break out into a War. And he tore himself in such a manner by his crying out, that all his Veines were opened, and every one of his Arteries broken. [A vast quantity of] bloud gushing out after this manner, he died in the Castle called Bergition, after Gratianus's third Consulate [which he bore] with Equitius, a∣bout the seventeenth of the month November; when he had lived fifty four years, and reigned thirteen. Valentinianus therefore having ended his life, the Milice in Italy, on the sixth day af∣ter his death, proclaimed his Son (who had the same name with his Father,) Valentinianus (a very young child,) Emperour, in a 1.4 Acincum a City of Italy. The Emperours, informed hereof, were displeased, not because Valentinianus Junior (who was brother to the * 1.5 one Emperour, and the † 1.6 others Nephew) was made Emperour: but in regard he had been proclaimed without either of their being acquain∣ted with it, whom they them∣selves were about to pro∣claim. Notwithstanding, both of them gave their consent to his being made Emperour. After this manner was Valentinianus Junior seated on his own Fa∣thers Throne. Further, you must know, that this Valentinianus was begotten by Valentinianus Senior, of Justina, which woman * 1.7 he married whilest Severa his former wife was living, on this occasion. Justus, Father to Justina, (who heretofore, to wit, in Constantius's Reign, had been Governour of the Province Picenum;) had a Dream, wherein (to his own thinking) he saw himself delivered of the Imperial purple [which he brought forth] out of his right side, this Dream being divulged, at length came to Constantius's hearing also. He guessing at the meaning of the Dream, to wit, that an Empe∣rour should * 1.8 descend from Justus, sent one who dispatcht him. His daughter Justina, bereaved of her Father, for a considerable while continued a Virgin. Some time after, she became known to Severa, wife to the Emperour Valentinianus, and was continually conversant with the Empress. And after a firm familiarity was contracted between them, she bathed her self also together with her. When therefore Severa had seen Justina washing her self, she was † 1.9 wonderfully taken with the Virgins beauteous composure of body, and dis∣coursed concerning her in the Emperours pre∣sence; [saying] that that Virgin, Justus's daughter, was endowed with so admirable a compleatness of body, that she her self, although a woman, was notwithstanding inamoured with her delicate shape. The Emperour treasured up his Wives discourse in his mind, and consulted about his marriage of Justina; yet so as not to divorce Severa, of whom he had begotten Gra∣tianus, and had created him Augustus but a little before. He therefore dictated a b 1.10 Law, and made it publick throughout every City, that any one that would, might have two Lawfull wives. This Law was promulged. And he married Justina, by whom he had Valentinianus Junior, and three daughters, Justa, Grata, and Galla. The two former of which persisted in their re∣solution of continuing Virgins: but Galla was afterwards married to the Emperour * 1.11 Theodosius the Great, of whom he begat a daughter, by name Placidia. For he had Arcadius and Honorius by c 1.12 Flaccilla his former wife. But we shall speak in particular concerning Theodosius, and his sons, in due place.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, per∣sons un∣worthy of praise.
• † 1.2

  That is, of the whole na∣tion of the Sarmatae.
• ‖ 1.3

  Or, tram∣ple upon.
• a 1.4

  We met with a double mi∣stake here, the one committed by Socrates's Transcribers, the other by Socrates himself. We have corrected the Transcribers errour (who, in stead of Acincum, had made it Aconcam,) from the Au∣thority of the Sfortian and Flo∣rent. M. SS. It will be sufficient only to take notice of Socrates's mistake here; who calls Acin∣cum a City of Italy, whenas it belonged to Pannonia. Vales.
• * 1.5

  That is, To Gratianus.
• † 1.6

  To wit, Valens's brother's son.
• * 1.7

  That is, Valentinia∣nus Senior.
• * 1.8

  Or, should be born of.
• † 1.9

  Or, in love with.
• b 1.10

  There is no mention of this law of Valenti∣nianus's, any where. No, not in Amm. Mar∣cellinus, who has with great accuracy recorded Valentini∣anus's af∣faires. In∣deed such a law as this (in my judgment) is in no wise agreeable to Valentinian, a serious Prince, and a Christian. Therefore, this whole story of Justina's marriag••, is in my opinion, of a credit doubtfull and uncertain. Vales.
• * 1.11

  Or, The∣odosius Se∣nior.
• c 1.12

  Epiphanius Scholasticus calls her (not Placida, but) Flaccilla; which is truest. For so the ancient Coynes term her. But, 'tis strange that Greek writers should so frequently be mistaken in this name. For we have remark't before, that Placitus is by Socrates often used, instead of Flaccillus, who was Bishop of Antioch. Further, this Flac∣cilla was the daughter of that Antonius, who was Consul with Siagrius, as Themistius informs us, in his Gratiarum Actione, to Theodosius, for the peace made with the Goths. Vales.