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. XXXIII. How the Goths, under the Reign of Valens, em∣braced Christianity.

THose Barbarians who dwell beyond the Da∣nube, having kindled a Civil War amongst themselves, were divided into two parties: the one of which was headed by Fritigernes, the other by Athanarichus. When 'twas apparent that Athanarichus's party was the stronger, Fri∣tigernes flies to the Romans, and implored their assistance against his Adversary. This is made known to the Emperour Valens: and he orders those Souldiers, who were engarrisoned all over Thracia for the defence of that Country, to assist the Barbarians being at War against the Barba∣rians. And they obtain a Victory over Atha∣narichus beyond the Danube, having * 1.1 routed his Forces. This was the reason, that many of the Barbarians became Christians. For, Friti∣gernes, that he might express his thankfulness to the Emperour for the kindness he had done him, embraced the Emperours Religion, and perswaded those under his command to the same. Where∣fore, many of the Goths are even till this present addicted to Arianisme, having at that time be∣come Adherents to that Heresie upon the Empe∣rours account. At the same time also, Ulfila Bishop of the Goths, invented Gothick Letters, and having translated the sacred Scriptures into the Gothick Language, undertook the instruction of the Barbarians in the divine Oracles. But, in regard Ulfila instructed not only those Barbarians under Fritigernes, but them also who pay'd obedience to Athanarichus, in the Christian Religion; Athanarichus, * 1.2 as if violence were offered to the Religion of his Ancestours, inflicted punish∣ments on many of those who profest Christi∣anity: in so much that at that time [several] Arianizing Barbarians were Martyrs. Indeed, Arius, unable to refute the Opinion of Sabellius the Lybian, fell from the true Faith, and asserted a 1.3 the Son of God to be a new God. But the Barbarians, embracing Christianity with a sim∣plicity of mind, despised this present life in re∣spect of the faith of Christ. Thus far concer∣ning those [Goths] who came over to the Christian Religion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ••othē, ha∣ving▪ outed the Enemy.
• * 1.2

  Or, in regard his paternal Religion was adul∣terated.
• a 1.3

  Instead of [the Son of God to be new] which is the vulgar reading; in the Sfort. and Florent. M. SS. the reading is [the Son of God to be a new God;] accordingly we have rendred it. Vales.