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. A description of the Great Martyr Euphemia's Church, which is in [the City] Chalcedon: and a Narrative of the Miracles performed therein.

[THe Fathers] therefore are assembled in the sacred Church of the Martyr Eu∣phemia. This Church stands in Chalcedon, a City belonging to the Province of the Bithyni∣ans. It is distant from the Bosphorus not more than two furlongs, [scituate] in a most plea∣sant place, on an * 1.1 eminence which rises easily and by degrees: in so much that, those who go up into the Church of the Martyr, are insen∣sible of Labour in their walk, but being got within the Temple, on a sudden they appear at a vast height. Whence casting down their eyes as 'twere from a Watch Tower, they have a pro∣spect of all the fields beneath, extended into a levell and even plain, clothed in green with grass, waving with standing corn, and beautified with the sight of all sorts of trees: [they see] woody mountains also, [the trees whereon] bend and then raise [their tops] finely to an heighth. Moreover, [they have a prospect of] severall Seas, some of which [seem] * 1.2 purple coloured by reason of their serenity, and do sweetly and mildly play with the Shoares; to wit, where the places are calm: but others are rough and boysterous with surges, by the very reciprocall motion of their waves forcing a shoar † 1.3 sand mixt with little stones, Sea-weed, and the lightest sort of shell-fish, and then drawing them back again. Moreover, the Church it self stands right over against Constantinople. So that, the Temple is [not a little] adorned with the prospect of so great a City. The Church consists of three most spacious structures. The first is an Open Court, beautified with a large ‖ 1.4 Atrium, and with Pillars on every side. After this there is another Structure, for breadth, and length, and pillars, a 1.5 almost alike; differing only in this, that it has a Roof laid over it. In the Northen side where∣of at the rising Sun, there is a round Edifice built in form of a b 1.6 Tholus, set round with∣in with pillars most artificially framed, which are alike as to their matter, and equall in big∣ness. c 1.7 Over these [pillars,] there is an * 1.8 Hy∣per••on raised to a vast heighth, under the same Roof: so that, even in this Room also, they that desire it, may both supplicate the Mar∣tyr, and also be present at the sacred Mysteries. But, within the Tholus, towards the East, d 1.9 there is a magnificent Tomb, where lie the most holy Reliques of the Martyr, deposited in an oblong Chest (some term it e 1.10 The Macra,) most curiously made of silver. The Miracles which are at cer∣tain times performed by the holy Martyr, are manifestly known to all Christians. For, fre∣quently in their sleep she appears, either to the Bishops during their severall times of presidency over that City, or else to some persons (other∣wise eminent for [piety of] life,) who come to her [Church,] and orders them f 1.11 to make their Vintage in the Temple. After this hath been made known, both to the Emperours, to the Patriarch, and also to the City; as well those who sway the Imperiall Scepter, as the Pontif's, Magistrates, and the rest of the whole multitude of the people, go immediately to the Church, with a desire to partake of the Mysteries. In the sight of all these persons therefore, the Bi∣shop of Constantinople, together with the P••••e••••s about him, goes into the sacred Edifice, where the holy Body I have mentioned is deposited. g 1.12 There is a little hole in the Chest, on its left side, which is shut up and made fast by small doors. Through this hole they let down a long iron rod, after they have fastned a sponge to it, as far as the most holy Reliques; and when they have turn••d the sponge about, they draw the iron-rod up to them, [the sponge at the end whereof is] full of bloud, and bloudy clotters. Which when the people behold, immediately they adore and glorifie God.

[Further,] so great a plenty [of bloud] is extracted out thence, that both the pious Em∣perours, and also all the Priests [there] con∣vened, moreover the whole multitude which flock together at that place, in a most plentifull man∣ner do partake of it, and likewise send it over the whole world, to the Faithfull that are desirous of it. And the congealed bloud lasts [so as it is] forever, nor is the most holy bloud in any wise changed into any other colour. * 1.13 These miracles are performed, not at any determinate period of time, but according as the Life of the Bishop, and the gravity of his Moralls shall † 1.14 de∣serve. For, 'tis reported, that when ever a per∣son of probity, and one eminent for his vir∣tues, does govern [that Church,] this miracle is performed, and that most frequently: but when there is no such Prelate, such divine signes as these do rarely happen. But I will relate ano∣ther [miracle,] which no time or season ‖ 1.15 in∣terrupts: nor does it make any diff••••ence be∣tween the Faithfull and the ••nfidells; but 'tis alike * 1.16 shown to all persons. When any per∣son comes into that place, wherein the pretious Chest is, which contains the most holy Reliques, † 1.17 he smells a fragrant scent, which transcends all the usuall savours [smelt] by men. For, this scent is neither like that ‖ 1.18 which arises from Meadows, nor like that sent forth by any the most fragrant things, nor is it such a one as is made by Perfumers: but 'tis a certain strange and most excellent scent, h 1.19 which of it self demon∣strates the [virtue and] power of those things that produce it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, hill.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; which words Va∣lesius ren∣ders thus: serenitate renidentia, shining, or, glistering by reason of their calm∣ness.
• † 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; it sig∣nifies shells, or, sand full of little stones.
• ‖ 1.4

  Court, or, Courtyard.
• a 1.5

  I have mended this place from the Florentine M. S. after this man∣ner; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, almost a∣like. Ne∣vertheless, Nicephorus has followed the vulgar reading, which is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In the Tellerian M. S. I found it written 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.
• b 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, inform of a Cupolo. or Cuppolo; as the Italians now term it. Harpocration (in the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) tells us, that the place where the Prytanes (who were a sort of Magistrates amongst the Athenians) eat, was termed Tholus; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (continues he) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but by some 'tis termed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, (that is, an Arbour) because 'tis built round, in that form, like an hat with an high round crown.
• c 1.7

  'Tis strange that Translatours should not have perceived the fault of this place: for what can the sense be of these words; Sub his columnis tabulatum est sublime, &c. vnder these pillars there is an high chamber, &c, according as Christophorson has rendred it? Instead of [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, under these] it must undoubtedly be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, over these; which is the reading in Nicephorus; his words are these: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. which Langus renders thus: Super quibus porticus (ublimis eâdem sub Testudine constructa est, ••ver which [pillars] there is an high Gallery built under the same Roof. Vales.
• * 1.8

  Or, upper-Room.
• d 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Langus and Christophor∣son render it Sacra∣rium, a Ve∣stry, or lit∣tle Chap∣pell. Mus∣culus tran∣slates it adytum, a secret place in a Church to which few have access. Which I approve not of. I have ra∣ther ren∣dred it tu∣mulum, a Tomb, or Monument. For that is the import of the term 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as Hesychius and Suidas do attest. But, by a Tomb, or Monument, I mean a place fen∣ced in with Barrs made lattise▪wise, in the midst whereof was that silver-chest where∣in the Reliques of the holy Martyr Euphemia were deposited. For, that it was so, is apparent from Evagrius's following words. Vales.
• e 1.10

  Instead of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Macra, I think it should be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Arke. Truly, I do not see what sense there can be in the vul••••r reading; in regard 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifie the same; nor is it a proper name, but an adjective. 'Tis better therefore to read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Arke. Some persons, says Evagrius, term the Martyrs Che••••, Arcam, the Arke. For so the Latines term it. The Old Glosses render 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, arca ••unebris, an arke, or chest, for the dead. Vales.
• f 1.11

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Translatours understood not this place. Musculus and Christophorson made it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. For Musculus renders it thus: Ut circa templum ad honorem ejus jucundentur prae∣cipit, and orders them that in honour of her they should be merry about the Temple. And Christophorson translates it thus: Jubet ut in ipso templo festum deliciis, & opiparis epulis celebrent, she order•• that in the very Church they should celebrate a feast with dainties and sumptuous banquets. But, Evagrius's following words do altogether refute this emendation. For, he adds not one word at this place, which may in any wise belong to luxury or delicious food. Nicephorus has indeed retained the vulgar reading: but has explained it ill, thus: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: that is, as Langus has ren∣dred it, ut miraculorum talium fructum perciperent, est cohortata, she exhorteth them, that they should freely partake of the fruit of such mi∣racles. But Nicephorus added these words of his own head; nor has he comprehended Evagrius's meaning; in regard Evagrius speaks not here of more miracles, but of one only miracle, to wit, the bloud flowing out of the Tomb of the holy Martyr. I have followed the ordinary reading, and have explained this place in the simple and obvious sense concerning the making of a Vintage. Which agrees exactly with Evagrius's following words. For the bloud, which in a most plentifull manner was press't out of the blessed Martyrs reliques, was not unlike wine, which is squeezed out of prest grapes. Besides, the Festivall day of the holy Euphemia sell on the time of Vintage, to wit, on the sixteenth of September, as we are informed from the Greek Menologie. Vales.
• g 1.12

  I am of the same opinion with Learned men, who instead of [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, But moreover] have long since altered the reading, and made it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 There is, &c. Which emendation is confirmed by the Tel∣lerian Manuscript, and by Nicephorus. Further, Langus renders 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (which is the term here used,) fenestellam, a little win∣dow: Christophorson translates it transennam, a Loup, or, Casement. I (as Musculus has done,) had rather render it foramen, an hole. For Sozomen terms it thus, book. 9. chap. 2. where I have made more remarkes concerning such little windows as these, which were made in the Capsae [chests wherein were laid the Re∣liques] of the Martyrs. Vales.
• * 1.13

  Or, which things are magnifi∣cently cele∣brated.
• † 1.14

  Or, re∣quire.
• ‖ 1.15

  Or, cuts in sunder.
• * 1.16

  Or, ex∣posed, or, obvious.
• † 1.17

  Or, he is filled with.
• ‖ 1.18

  Or, which is gathered.
• h 1.19

  The term [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Re∣liques] is wanting in the Kings, the Florentine, and Tellerian Manuscripts, and likewise in Robert Stephens's Edition. Nor have the Geneva-Printers done well, who from Christophorson's books put this word in here, whereas it is in no wise necessary at this place, nor is it confirmed by the testimony of any written copy. For, those various readings which are pro∣duced from Christophorson's books, are for the most part nothing else but the conjectures of learned men. This whole passage therefore ought to be written as 'tis read in the Tellerian and Florentine Manu∣scripts; to wit thus: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which of it self demonstrates the [virtue and] power of those things that produce it. And so Nicephorus read: for he has exprest this place of Evagrius thus: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which gives an indication of the power of that thing which pro∣duceth it.