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. III. Concerning Theodosius and Agapetus Bishops of Synnada.

IN a 1.1 Synada a City of Phrygia Pacatiana, one Theodosius was Bishop, who severely perse∣cuted the Hereticks in that City, wherein there were many of the Sect of the Macedoniani: he drove them not only out of the City, but from the [adjacent] Villages also. Which practise of his was not b 1.2 agreeable to that of the Ortho∣dox Church, which does not use to persecute; nor was [He incited hereto] by a zeal for the true Faith: but being a perfect slave to the love of money, he made it his business to amass riches together, [by taking them] from the Hereticks. Wherefore, he made all imaginable attempts a∣gainst those that embraced the Sect of the Mace∣doniani, putting the Clergy that was under him in Arms; and practised a thousand strata∣gems against them: nor did he forbear c 1.3 bin∣ding them [over] to the Courts of Judicature.

More especially, he did severall ways disquiet their Bishop, whose name was Agapetus. But in regard the Governours of Provinces in no wise had (as he supposed) a sufficient power to punish [Hereticks,] he ran to Constantinople, and petitioned for Edicts from the Praefecti Praetorio. In the interim therefore that Theodosius stayed at Constantinople on this ac∣count, Agapetus, who as I have told you pre∣sided over the Sect of the Macedoniani, betook himself to a [prudent and] good d 1.4 course. For, having communicated the affair to his whole Clergy, and called together the people under him, he perswades them to embrace the Homoöusian Faith. Having effected this, he went directly into the Church, accompanied with a great multitude, or rather with the whole body of the people in generall. Where * 1.5 when he had solemnized the prayers, he took possession of the Chair, wherein Theodosius was wont to sit. And having united the people, and professing in future the Homoöusian Creed, he became pos∣sest of the Churches belonging to Synada. These things having been after this manner transacted, Theodosius arrives within a short time, and brings along with him a Praefecturian assistance: and being ignorant of what had been done, goes im∣mediately to the Church. From whence he was driven by all persons unanimously, and went a∣gain to Constantinople. Being arrived there, he made complaint before Atticus the Bishop, of what had been done against him, to wit, that he had been e 1.6 unjustly ejected out of his Bi∣shoprick. Atticus knowing that this accident was advantagious to the Church, gave Theodosius comfortable words, perswading him with pa∣tience to embrace a quiet course of life, and in∣forming him that he ought to prefer the good of the publick before his own private concern. But he wrote to Agapetus, [ordering him] to con∣tinue in possession of the Bishoprick, and [bid∣ding] him not to be suspicious of any molestation from Theodosius's displeasure.

Notes

• a 1.1

  It would be more truly writ∣ten Synna∣da, with a double n. For so the name of this City is more frequently inscribed on old Coyns. Jo∣hannes Tri∣stanus has produced a Coyn of the Emperour Caracalla's, which has this inscri∣ption, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 [Synnade〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉n.] Yet 'tis sometimes written with a single n. So it is in an old Coyn of the Emperour Nerva's; in the reverse whereof Jupiter is engraven with this Inscription,

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

  This Coyn was in the Archives of that illustrious personage the Lord Bryennius, concerning the meaning whereof when I was asked by the Learned Franciscus Ogerius▪ (to whom Pati••us had communica∣ted that Coyn,) my answer was, it was to be read thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. For the Synnadensians worshipped Jupiter under the name of Pandemos, because having heretofore been gathered together out of ma∣ny sorts of people in Greece, by Acamas, Theseus's son, they inhabited the City Synnada. Whence says Stephanus, the City was so named, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from their dwelling together. Further, those people out of whom the Colony of the Synnadensians was first collected, were of two sorts; to wit, the Macedonians, and the Athenians, or Ionians, who were in Asia; as the same Stephanus relates. Whence we un∣derstand, why (in the Emperour Caracalla's Coyn, which Johannes Tristanus has set forth,) the Synnadensians, are termed Dorienses and Ionians. For, this is the inscription, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. For the Macedonians, a Colony whereof Acamas brought thither, were ori∣ginally Dorienses. But the Athenians who went thither with Acamas Theseus's son, and the Colonies which Acamas is reported to have gathe∣red out of Asia, were Ionians▪ so termed from Iön the Athenian. Vales.
• b 1.2

  It is a famous question, and usually disputed on both sides, whe∣ther it be lawfull for Catholicks, especially Bishops, to persecute He∣reticks. In the determination whereof, I am of opinion, that a distin∣ction is requisite. For 'tis certain, that on account of amassing mo∣ney together it is not lawfull for Catholicks to molest and vex Here∣ticks; which thing Theodosius Bishop of Synnada at that time did. Also, to persecute them by criminall sentences, and to thirst after their bloud, is in like manner unlawfull; as Idatius and some other Prelates of Spain did in their persecution of the Priscilianists. To whose communion when S^t Martin had for some time joyned himself, he acknowledged, that great detriment befell him from that thing, as Sulpicius Severus does relate in his Life. Notwithstanding, it is and always was lawfull for Catholicks, to implore the aid of Princes and Ma∣gistrates against Hereticks, that they be restrained, and kept within the bounds of duty; least they should behave themselves insolently over the Catholicks, or least they should insult over and scoff at the Ca∣tholick Religion. S^r Augustine confesses indeed, that heretofore this was his Sentiment, to wit, that Hereticks were not to be molested and vexed by Catholicks, but that they were to be invited by all instances of mansuetude and mildness. But afterwards he altered his opinion, being most certainly informed, that the Laws of Princes made against Hereticks, are usefull to Hereticks themselves in order to their con∣version. And he says this was acknowledged by the Donatists them∣selves, who had afterwards returned to the Catholick Church. For they affirmed, that they had never returned to the Church, but had al∣ways continued in their errour, had they not been provoked and drawn as it were by those penalties and mulcts [contained in] the Imperial Laws. There is a most elegant passage of Augustine's [a∣bout this matter] in his 48^th Epistle to Vincentius; to which is to be added another passage of the same Authour, in his first book against Gaudentius, chap. 23. Vales.
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, That is, he drew and bound them as it were to Judges Tribunals. Translatours thought these words were spoken concerning bonds, as if Theodosius the Bishop had brought the Hereticks bound before the Judges. In which sense Nicephorus also took this passage. But Socrates's words will not bear this meaning. Vales.
• d 1.4

  Instead of [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, mad∣ness] Ni∣cephorus and Chri∣stophorson read [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Course, device, or purpose:] with which reading I am best pleased. Vales.
• * 1.5

  Or, when he had cele∣brated a prayer.
• e 1.6

  We read [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, un∣justly▪] a∣greeable to the reading in Epiphan. Scholasti∣cus, and Nicephorus. The other Reading is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, contrary to reason, or unexpected∣ly. Vales.