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. XXXVII. Concerning Silvanus, who was translated from Philippopolis to Troas.

SIlvanus had formerly been a Rhetorician [in the School of] Troïlus the Sophista. But in regard he proposed to himself an accuracy in the profession of the Christian Religion as his chief design, and exercised himself in the severities of an Ascetick life, [on account hereof] he refused to a wear the Rhetoricians Pallium. But afterwards, At∣ticus the Bishop b laid hold of him, and or∣dained him Bishop of Philippopolis. After he had lived three years in Thracia, and found himself unable to endure the cold (for he had a very thin, lean, and infirm body;) he entrea∣ted Atticus, that he would ordain another in his stead, affirming that he refused to live in Thra∣cia upon no other account, than because of the cold. Another person therefore having for this very reason been ordained in his room, Silvanus continued at Constantinople, and with a most ex∣quisite diligence followed an Ascetick course of life. He was so great a stranger to delicateness and fineness, that he would frequently appear in publick amongst so numerous a concourse of people as were in that populous City, shod only with Sandalls made of c Spartum. After some intervall of time the Bishop of the Church

of Troas departed this life. On which account the Inhabitants of Troas came [to Constanti∣nople] to desire a Bishop. Whilest Atticus was considering whom he should ordain, it hapned that Silvanus came to give him a visit. As soon as Atticus saw him, he d laid aside his care [about that affair] immediately, and spoke to Silvanus [on this wise,] You have no further excuse for your avoiding the care and government of [this] Church. For Troas is not a cold place. Behold, God has provided you a convenient place for the infirmness of your body. Delay not therefore, Brother, but go to Troas. Wherefore Sil∣vanus removed to that City: where he did a Mi∣racle, which I will now relate. A vast Ship for car∣rying of burthens, made for the conveyance of great pillars, (such a vessell they term Plate;) had been newly built on the Shore of Troas. This Ves∣sell was to be Launched. But though many ropes [were fastned to the Ship,] and a great num∣ber of persons [did their utmost] to hale it [Seaward,] yet it was not in any wise to be moved. After this had been done for many days, then they thought that a devil detained the Vessell. Wherefore, they went to Bishop Silvanus, and entreated him to make a prayer in that place. For they believed, that by that means only the Ship was to be drawn into the Sea. But he, entertaining modest thoughts of himself, stiled himself a sin∣ner, and said, that was a work to be done by some righteous person, not by him. When they continued their Suit with a greater earnest∣ness, he went to the Shore. Where after he had prayed, he took hold of one of the ropes, and bad them set close to the business. And when they had haled the Ship on a little, she ran swiftly into the Sea. This Miracle performed by Silvanus's hands stirred up those of that Pro∣vince to piety. But Silvanus was a good man as to other things also. For perceiving that the Ecclesiasticks made a gain of their contentions who were engaged in Suits at Law, he would never make any one of the Clergy a Judge. But received the Libells of the Litigants himself, and called one of the faithfull Laicks to him, whom he knew to be a Lover of justice; to whom he committed the hearing of the cause, [by which means] he e freed the Li∣tigants from contentious∣ness. For these reasons Sil∣vanus got himself a great name amongst all men. Thus much concerning Silvanus, which although declared by way of digression, yet (in my judgment) the mention hereof is not unusefull. But let us return to that place, from whence we have digressed. After Maximianus therefore was ordained Bishop [of Constantinople] in the Consulate of Bassus and Antiochus, about the twenty fifth of Octo∣ber, the affairs of the Church were in a sedate and quiet posture.

Notes

• a

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Christophor∣son has ren∣dred it ill▪ thus, Pal∣lium Philo∣sophicum, the Philoso∣phick Pal∣lium, ad∣ding a word of his own, to wit, Philo∣sophick. But Socrates speaks not concerning the Philo∣sophick Pal∣lium, but concerning that of the Rhetorici∣ans. For he says that Silvanus had before been a Rhetorician, that is, an Advocate out of Troïlus the Sophist's School: but af∣terwards left off his Pallium, and imbraced a Monastick life. Con∣cerning the Rhetoricians Pallium see what we have remarked before at book 7. chap. 12▪ note (c.) To which may be added this pas∣sage out of Theophylactus Simocatta's Menodia, which he spoke in praise of the Emperour Mauricius after Phaucas's death: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Which words Theophylactus himself cites in the eighth book of his History, chap. 12. Whence it may be gathered, that the Rhetori∣cians Pallium was white, not red, or Scarlet coloured, as we have noted before from Cyrillus, and Basilius Grammaticus. Gregorius Nazian∣zenus speaks also concerning the Rhetoricians Pallium, in his twentieth Oration concerning the praises of Basilius▪ pag. 328. Edit. Paris. 1609▪ where Billius (by the same mistake) has rendred it Pallia Philoso∣phica, the Philosophick Palliums. Vales.
• b

  I agree not with Christophorson, who has rendred this place so, as if Atticus had sent for Silvanus to come to him. What need was there of sending for him, who was present at Constantinople, to wit, a Rhe∣torician in the School of Troïlus the Sophist who taught Rhetorick at Constantinople? The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies something more, to wit, to lay hold of, and use force towards any person. By this term therefore Socrates shews, that Silvanus was against his own will, and with a reluctancy made Bishop of Philippopolis by Atticus. Philippo∣polis is the Metropolis of that Country strictly and properly called Thracia. You must know further, that the ordination of the Metro∣politanes of Thracia belonged then to the Bishop of Constantinople. For the Patriarchs by a certain singular priviledge ordained Metropolitanes, as I have observed at large in my dissertation on the sixth Canon of the Nicene Councill. [The Learned Reader will meet with this dissertation of Valesius's at pag. 188. of his notes on Socrates and Sozomen; Edit. Paris. 1668.] Hence 'tis, that the same Atticus Patriarch of Constan∣tinople, ordained the said Silvanus Bishop of Troas, upon the request of the Inhabitants of that City. For Alexandria Troas [or, Alexan∣der's Troas,] was the Metropolis of Phrygia. This is in express words established by the twenty eighth Canon of the Chalcedon Councill, [which occurs at Tom. 1. pag. 145, Edit. Beveredg.] which Treats concer∣ning the priviledges of the Constantinopolitane See: to wit, that the Metropolitanes only of the Thracican, Pontick, and Asian Dioecesis, should be ordained by the most holy Constantinopolitane See; the De∣crees being, (as usually,) first made, by the common consent of the Clergy and Laity, and directed to the Patriarch of Constantinople. For thus the foresaid Canon does determine, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Decrees made as usually, being agreed upon and transmitted to him, The Canon means the Decree of Request, such a one as the Corinthians sent to Bonifatius, desiring they might have Perigenes for their Bishop; as we have ob∣served before at chap. 36▪ note (c.) Vales.
• c

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Christophorson renders it, Sandalils indutus foeno confectis, shod with Sandalls made of hay. Epiphanius Scho∣lasticus (who is followed by Langus, Nicephorus's Translatour, book 14. chap. 39.) translates it soleas de sparto, Sandalls of spartum. Spartum is a kind of Shrub like our Broom, of which they made bonds to tie their Vines, ropes for Ships, and (as it seems) Sandalls also. Such Sandalls as these were those termed Carbatinae; concerning which see Julius Pollux Onomast. book 7. chap. 22. Hesychius (in the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,) says they were mean shooes worn by the Pesants; and expounds that term thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a shooe with one sole.
• d

  Instead of [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, laid upon] we read [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, he laid aside] agreeable to Chrysto∣phorson's and S^r Henry Savil's reading. Vales.
• Or, touched.
• e

  In Robert Stephens Edition the reading is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, he drove.] In the Florent. M. S. 'tis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Wherefore, I doubt not but Socrates wrote [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, he freed, or released.] For the common reading, in my judg∣ment, is not to be born; al∣though Nicephorus confirms it. Vales.
• Or, Has not been unfruit∣full.