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. IV. That Basiliscus recalled Timotheus Aelurus, and▪ induced thereto by him, sent his Circular Let∣ters to all places, in order to the * 1.1 abrogating of the Chalcedon-Synod.

[INduced thereto] * 1.2 by an Embassy therefore of some persons [sent to him] from A∣lexandria, he recalls Timotheus from Exile, (who had been banished eighteen years;) Acacius [at that time] administring the Bishoprick▪ of Constantinople. When therefore Timotheus was arrived at the Imperiall City, he perswades Basi∣liscus ‖ 1.3 to send his Circular Letters to the Prelates in all places, and to Anathematize what had been done at Chalcedon, and Leo's Book. The † 1.4 Con∣tents of the Circular Letters run thus.

Emperour Caesar Basiliscus, Pius, Victor▪ Triumphator, Maximus, always Ado∣rable, Augustus: and Marcus the most Noble Caesar, to Timotheus the most Re∣verend and * 1.5 most Pious Arch-Bishop of the Great City Alexandria.

Whatever Laws the most Pious Emperours our Predecessours have made in defence of the true and Orthodox Faith, whosoever [of them] have persisted truly to worship the Blessed, Immortall, and Vivifick Trinity; Our Will is, that those Laws, in regard they have always been Salutary to the whole world, should at no time be abro∣gated and made void: but rather, We promulge those Laws as our own. But We, who give Piety and a Zeal for God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath made Us and advanced Us to Glory, a preference before [all care and sollicitude] a∣bout Humane affairs; and moreover, who believe, that the * 1.6 Concord of Christ's Flocks is the † 1.7 safe∣ty of the Flocks themselves, and of every Subject, and is the firm and solid Foundation, and immo∣vable Wall of our Empire; being ‖ 1.8 on this account deservedly moved with a divine zeal of mind, and offering to God and our Saviour Jesus Christ the uniting together of the Holy Church as the First∣fruits of our Empire, do Enact, that the * 1.9 Basis and Foundation of Humane felicity▪ that is the Creed of the Three hundred and eighteen Ho∣ly Fathers heretofore convened at Nicea † 1.10 by the instinct of the Holy Ghost (unto which [Creed] We and all our Ancestours, after our belief thereof, have been baptized,) shall only be made use of, and ‖ 1.11 obtain in all God's most Holy Churches [and in the Assemblies of] the Orthodox people; in regard that only is the definition of the true and sincere Faith, and is sufficient both for the destruction of any Heresie of what sort soever, and also for the compleat and perfect uniting of God's Holy Chur∣ches. Yet so, that those things also shall retain

their own Strength and Validity, which have been done in this Imperial City by the Hundred and fifty Holy Fathers, in confirmation of the same divine Creed, against them who have ut∣tered. Blasphemies against the Holy Ghost: and moreover, all those things which have been done in the Metropolis of the Ephesians, against the Impious Nestorius, and those who * 1.12 since that have embraced his Sentiments. But We Decree, that those things which have broke the Concord and good order of God's Holy Churches, and the Peace of the whole world, to wit, that termed Leo's Tome, and all things which in the definition of the Faith at Chalcedon, or in the Exposition of the Creeds, have been spoken or done, on account either of Interpretation, or Doctrine, or Disputation, in order to the Innovation of the forementioned Holy Creed of the Three hundred and eighteen Holy Fathers, shall be Anathematized both here, and every where else, throughout every Church, by the most Holy Bishops in all places, and shall be com∣mitted to the flames by whomsoever they shall be found. For thus the Emperours of Pious and Blessed Memory [who lived] before Us, to wit, b 1.13 Constantine and Theodosius Junior, have Decreed concerning all Hereticall Opinions. Be∣ing therefore after this manner abrogated, let them be wholly cast out of the one and only Catholick and Apostolick Orthodox Church; in regard they alter the eternall and salutary * 1.14 Terms of the 318 Holy Fathers, and those of the [150] Blessed Fathers who † 1.15 have published express Declarations [concerning] the Holy Ghost, c 1.16 as likewise the [Terms] of those at Ephesus. It shall therefore be lawfull for no person whatever, whether Priest or Laïck, in any wise to transgress that most Di∣vine Constitution of the Holy Creed. [Further,] toge∣ther with all those Innova∣tions made at Chalcedon, against the Divine Creed, [We Decree] that their Heresie shall be Anathematized, who deny that the only-begotten Son of God was really and truly incarnate and made man by the Holy Ghost, and of the Holy and ever-Virgin Mary the Theotocos, but in a false and monstrous manner assert [that he took flesh] either * 1.17 from Heaven, or imaginarily and in shew only and appearance; in fine, every Heresie, and if there hath been any other Innovation made, at what time soever, in whatever manner, or place of the whole world, either in sense and meaning, or in words, [framed] in order to a transgres∣sing the said Divine Creed. But in regard 'tis the property of an Imperial providence, by a fore∣seeing consideration and inspection liberally to dis∣tribute security to its Subjects, not only at the pre∣sent, but for the future also; We Decree that the most Holy Bishops in all places shall subscribe to this Our Divine Circular Letter when * 1.18 exhibited to them, and shall plainly declare, that they adhere solely to the Divine Creed of the Three hundred and eighteen Holy Fathers, which the Hundred and fifty Holy Fathers have since confirmed; in such manner as those most Holy Fathers afterwards convened at the Metropolis of the Ephesians have definitively Decreed, to wit, d 1.19 that we ought only to follow the Divine Creed of the Three hundred and eighteen Holy Fathers, in regard it is the Boundary and Limit of the Faith: Anathematizing what ever hath at Chalcedon been made the stumbling-block of the Orthodox Laity, and wholly ejecting it out of the Churches, as being become the impediment of the e 1.20 uni∣versall and our own [pri∣vate] felicity. But whoso∣ever after these our Divine Syllables (which, we believe, are promulged agreeable to [the mind of] God, in regard they procure an Union to God's Holy Churches, wisht-for and desired by all men;) shall at any time attempt to produce, or so much as to name, either by way of dispute, or in their tea∣ching, or writings, at what time, in what man∣ner or place soever, the Innovation which hath been made at Chalcedon against the Faith; our command is, that such persons as these (in regard they are the Occasioners of Disquietude and Tu∣mult to all God's Holy Churches and to every one of our Subjects, and are enemies to God and to our safety, according to those Laws promulged long before our time by Theodosius of Blessed and Divine Memory, against this manner of * 1.21 impro∣bity, which [Laws] we have subjoyned to this Our Divine Circular Letter;) if they be Bishops or Clergymen, shall be deposed: but if Monks, or Laicks they † 1.22 shall be lyable to Banishment, to a Confiscation of all their Goods, and to the ex∣treamest punishments. For thus the Holy and Consubstantiall Trinity (at all times adored by Our Piety,) the Framer and Enlivener of all things, being by Us now also worshipped, by an abolition of the forementioned ‖ 1.23 Darnell, and a confirmation of the true and Apostolick Traditions of the Holy Creed, and rendred propitious and candid, both to Our Souls, and to every of Our Subjects; will ever in future together with Us Govern Humane Affairs, and render them com∣posed and peaceable.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rejecting, or, aboli∣shing.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Without doubt it must be written thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by an Embassy therefore. Which though it may seem a small and triviall emendation, is yet altogether necessary. In Nice∣phorus, 'tis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to wit, or, therefore. Vales.
• ‖ 1.3

  Or, To make use of his circular Syllables.
• † 1.4

  Or, Composure of which Letters say these words.
• * 1.5

  Or, God∣loving.
• * 1.6

  Or, Con∣junction, or, binding together.
• † 1.7

  Or, Sal∣vation.
• ‖ 1.8

  Or, From hence.
• * 1.9

  Or, Ground and Firma∣ment.
• † 1.10

  Or, To∣gether with the Holy Spirit.
• ‖ 1.11

  Or, Hold [obliege, bind,] the Orthodox people in all God's most Holy Churches.
• * 1.12

  Or, Af∣terwards.
• b 1.13

  There is indeed ex∣tant a Con∣stitution of the Emperour Constantine's, wherein the Dogmaticall Books of Arius are ordered to be burnt; which Constitution occurs at pag. 221. of our Socrates. Nevertheless, the Emperour Basiliscus seems here to mean another Law, which had been promulged by Con∣stantine against all Hereticks in generall. But that Law hath perished by the injury of time. Yet part of it is still remaining in Eusebius, in the Third Book of his Life of Constantine, Chap. 64, and 66. But, there are two Constitutions extant of Theodosius Junior's, concerning the burning of Nestorius's books. The former of which makes men∣tion of the Law of Constantine of Blessed Memory against Arius's im∣pious books. Further, these Constitutions of Theodosius occur in the third part of the Ephesine Councill. Basiliscus had subjoyned these Laws of Theodosius to his own Circular Edict, as 'tis hereafter at∣tested, Vales.
• * 1.14

  Or, Limits.
• † 1.15

  Or, Have made San∣ctions [concerning] the, &c.
• c 1.16

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. At this place Nicephorus has rightly ad∣ded two words, in this manner; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. But I affirm that a third word is to be added, thus; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. For the word [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, terms] is understood; which occurs in the foregoing Clauses. Vales.
• * 1.17

  Or, Out of.
• * 1.18

  Or, Shown, or, declared.
• d 1.19

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c In Ni∣cephorus 'tis truer written thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. that we ought only to follow, &c. which reading Christophorson and S^r Henry Savil have embraced. A little after this, where the reading before was, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as the Boun∣dary and Limit of the Faith; from the Florent. and Tellerian M. SS. I have made it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in regard it is, &c. as 'tis in Nicephorus. Vales.
• e 1.20

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In the Tellerian M. S. and in Nicephorus, I found it writ∣ten, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of the univer∣sall, &c. Vales.
• * 1.21

  Or, Ma∣levolence.
• † 1.22

  Or, Shall fall under Banish∣ment, &c.
• ‖ 1.23

  Or, Tares.