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.

The Writers Preface [wherein he declares] on what account he be∣took himself to the Writing of this present History.

EUSEBIUS Surnamed PAMPHILUS, a Person both eminently Eloquent as to other things, and so powerfull in his Writings also, that by his perswasives he might be able (if not to render them a 1.1 perfectly Orthodox, yet) to prevail upon his Readers so far as to em∣brace our [Sentiments:] Eusebius surnamed Pamphilus [I say,] Sozomen, Theodoret, and Socrates, in the best and most accurate manner have set forth in Writing, both the Advent of [our] Compassionate God amongst us, and his Ascent into the heavens; and also those things which the divine Apostles, and other Martyrs have couragiously performed in their Combats [in defence of the Faith;] Moreover, whatever else hath been transacted by those of our Religion, whether praise-worthy, or otherwise, till some b 1.2 part of the Emperour Theodosius's Reign. But, in regard no person has hitherto given an orderly Narrative of the transactions that hapned afterwards, which [notwithstanding] are not much inferiour to them; I have resolved (though I am but little versed in such things,) to undertake this Work, and to compile an History of those affairs; being very confident, that by his assistance, who infused wisdome into Fishermen, and made the tongue of a Brute utter an articulate voice; I shall raise affairs already buried in Oblivion, give life to them by my Discourse, and render them immortall by an [eternall] commemora∣tion: to the end that every one of my Readers may know, what [has been done,] when, where, how, against whom, and by whom affairs have been transacted, untill our own times: and [to the end that] nothing wor∣thy to be remembred, may lie concealed by a remiss and dissolute Sloth, and (which is its next neighbour,) Oblivion. Divine assistance therefore being my guide, I will begin, where the Authours I have already mentioned, closed their History.

Notes

• a 1.1

  I like not Christo∣phorson's Version, who has rendred 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Per∣fecte Chri∣stianos, per∣fectly Chri∣stians. I would ra∣ther render it perfectly Orthodox. For the followers of true o∣pinions are properly termed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Photius (in his Bibliotheca) speaks thus concerning Socrates Scholasticus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Moreover, in his Sentiments he is not very Orthodox. The meaning of this place therefore, is this: Eusebius (although he be very fit to perswade his Readers to embrace the Christian Religion, yet) is not able to make them very accurate in the doctrine of the Christian Faith, in regard he himself seems to have inclined towards the opinion of the Arians. For, this was the sentiment of many persons concerning Eusebius Pamphilus; whom I have sufficiently answered, in the Preface I have written to the same Eusebius's Ecclesiastick History. Vales.
• b 1.2

  The word [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, part] is wanting in the Kings, in the Florentine, and in the Tellerian M. SS. nor is it in Robert Stephens's Edition. The Geneva-Printers were the first that put in this word from Christophorson's Copy, the Various Readings whereof are extant at the end of the Cologne-Edition. Christophorson has expressed this word in his Version. For thus he renders it: ad ali∣quam partem Regni Theodosii, to some part of Theodosius's Reign. But, it seems more elegant to me, to suppress, rather than add this word. If a word must be added, I had rather add 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, time. Vales.