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. XXIX. Concerning the Pestilentiall Distemper.

MOreover, I will give a Narrative of that [Pestilentiall] Distemper which brake out [in these times,] and which has raged now these Two and fifty years, (a 1.1 a thing which is never related to have hapned before,) and has in a manner destroyed the whole Earth. For, two years after Antioch had been taken by the Persians, a Pestilentiall disease began to rage, in some things like to that recorded by * 1.2 Thu∣cydides, in others far different. And it took its beginning from Aethiopia, as 'twas then re∣ported: but by turns it has overrun the whole world; this Distemper having, I think, left no Mortalls untouch't. Some Cities were so sorely oppressed [with this Calamity,] that they be∣came wholly empty of Inhabitants: but in other places where the Distemper arrived, its chastise∣ment was more light. Nor did [this Pesti∣lence] rage at any certain and set season [of the year;] nor, after it had raged, did it in a like manner recede. But, it seized some places at the beginning of Winter, others in the Spring time, b 1.3 others in Summer; again, othersome during the procedure of the Autumn. And, in some Cities, when it had touched some parts, it abstained [from infecting] the other parts thereof. And you might frequently see in a City not infected, some Families utterly de∣stroyed: But in other places, one or two Fa∣milies having been consumed, the rest of the City in future continued untouch't by the Distem∣per. But, after a more accurate inspection in∣to the matter, we found, that those Families which had continued untouch't, were on the year following the only ones which suffered [by this Distemper.] But, that which was the most wonderfull thing of all, was this, that if it hap∣ned that the Inhabitants of those Cities infected, removed to any other place where this Distem∣per raged not, they were the only persons seized with these Diseases, who [coming] out of in∣fected Cities, made their Residence in Cities un∣infected. And these things hapned frequently, both in Cities and in other places, at the periods of those Cycles termed the Indictions. But, most especially c 1.4 on the 2^d year * 1.5 of each Indiction, almost a totall destruction befell men. In so much that I my self who write these things; (For I thought good to interweave into this History what has a relation to my self, by a fit insertion of what is Congruous at places opportune and con∣venient: [I my self, I say,]) who d 1.6 as yet frequented [the School of] a Grammer-Ma∣ster, was seised with those termed the † 1.7 Bubo's, about the beginning of this [Pestilentiall] Distemper. And in those Sicknesses which raged at seve∣rall times, I lost many of my Chil∣dren, my Wife, and severall others of my Rela∣tions, e 1.8 my Servants also, and very many of those who lookt after and tilled my Grounds: the Circles of the Indictions dividing as 'twere the Calamities that befell me amongst themselves. At what time therefore I did write these things, being in the f 1.9 fifty eighth year of mine age, g 1.10 with∣in these two last years, when this Distemper had raged at Antioch now the fourth time,

(For the h 1.11 fourth Cycle [of the Indictions] hath passed from the beginning [of this cala∣mitous Disease:]) besides the persons foremen∣tioned, I lost my Daughter, and my Grandchild born of her. Further, this Distem∣per * 1.12 consisted of a complication of Diseases. For, in some it began from the head, and having made the eyes bloudy, and tumified the face, it descen∣ded into the throat, and sent the person seized with it from among men. In o∣thers there hapned a † 1.13 loose∣ness of the Belly. In other∣some arose Bubo's, and thence [hapned] very high Fea∣vers: and within two or three days they died, being as firm and ••ound in body and mind as those who had been afflicted with no Distemper. Others became distracted and mad, and so ended their lives. Carbuncles also breaking out [of the body,] destroyed many men. Some per∣sons having once, twice, and thrice been seized [with this Distemper,] and escaped with their lives; afterwards were infected [with it] a∣gain, and died. The ways likwise of contra∣cting this Distemper were different and mani∣fold, and such as were * 1.14 unaccountable. For some died, meerly by conversing and living to∣gether [in the same house:] others, by a touch only: othersome, by entring into an house: again, others [contracted the Infection] in the Forum. Some having fied out of infected Cities, continued uninfected themselves, but im∣parted the Disease to those who were not in∣fected. Others contracted no Distemper at all, although they had lived with many in∣fected persons, and had touched not only per∣sons Distempered, but those likewise who were dead. Othersome (although they made it their business to destroy themselves, because of the loss of their Children or Families; and on this ac∣count especially were continually conversant with the infected; nevertheless, as if the Disease made a resistance against their will,) were in no wise seized with it. This Pestilentiall Distemper there∣fore has raged Two and fifty years, as I have said, till this present time; having out-done all [Plagues] which [ever hapned] before. * 1.15 But Philostratus admires, because in his time a Plague raged Fifteen years. Now, the Events after this yet to come, are uncertain, in regard they pro∣ceed thither, whither it shall seem well pleasing to God, who certainly knows both the Causes [of things,] and also whither they tend. But I will return to that place, from whence I have digressed, and will give a Narrative of the rest of Justinian's Transactions.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. A Postpositive Article seems necessary to be added, in this manner; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a thing which is never related to have hapned before. Which Emendation Nicephorus confirms book 17. chap. 17; who hath worded this place of Evagrius thus; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which thing never was heard of, that it [a Plague] should invade the earth for the space of two and fifty years. Indeed, no Plague is recorded to have raged so long. This Pestilence is said to have begun on the year after Basilius's Con∣sulate, which was the year of Christ 543, as 'tis attested by Victor Thunonensis in his Chronicon, and by the Continuer of Marcellinus Comes's Chronicon. Victor Thunonensis writes thus concerning this Plague: Horum exordia malorum general•••• orbis Terrarum morta∣litas sequitur, &c. A generall Mortality of the world follows the be∣ginnings of these mischiefs, and the greater part of the people is killed by a Persecution of their Groynes. The words of Marcellinus's Continuer run thus: Indictione 6. Anno Secundo post Consulatum Basilii, &c; in the sixth Indiction, on the Second year after Basilius's Consulate, a great Mortality destroys Italy, the East and Illyricum having in the same manner been already consumed. Victor does indeed seem to agree with Mar∣cellinus, relating that that Plague began on the second year after Ba∣silius's Consulate, as Marcellinus, records. But, in reality he dissents in the space of one year. For, the second year after Basilius's Con∣sulate, in Victor Tunonensis is the same with the first year after Basilius's Consulate, to wit, the year of Christ 542. For, Victor Thunonensis does always term that year immediately following the Consulate of any Con∣sul, the second year, not the first; as may be proved by many instances. Further, our Evagrius seems to follow Victor Thunonensis's opinion. For Evagrius says, that that Pestilence began two years after Antioch had been taken by the Persians. Now, Antioch was won by the Per∣sians when Justinus Junior was Consul, on the year of our Lords Na∣tivity 540, as Marcellinus and Marius relate in their Chronicles. But Baronius will have this Plague to have begun on the year of Christ 544. Vales.
• * 1.2

  See Thu∣cydides's Hist. book 2. pag. 129, &c. Edit. Fran∣cosurt. 1594.
• b 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I think it should be worded thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, o∣thers in Summer, as the rea∣ding is in Niceph. book 17. chap. 18. Vales.
• c 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I am of the same opinion with Lear∣ned men, who have mended it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in [or, on] the second year; as the rea∣ding is in Nicephorus, So, 'tis cer∣tain, S^r Henry Sa∣vill hath mended it in the mar∣gin of his Copy, and hath added this note, Anno Chri∣sti 539, on the year of Christ 539. S^r Henry Savill thought indeed, that by these words Evagrius meant, that that Plague had raged chiefly on the Second Indiction. But Evagrius says not that; nor, had that Plague be∣gun to rage on the year of Christ 539. Evagrius therefore says this only; viz. that on the second year of each Indiction that Plague raged more sorely than 'twas wont to do at other times. Vales.
• * 1.5

  Or, O•• the Cycle of fifteen years.
• d 1.6

  In the excellent Florent. and Tellerian M. S. I found it written, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as yet frequented [the School of] a Gram∣mar-Master; which is more elegant. And thus Evagrius speaks above, at chap. 26; where he writes, that he frequented the School of the Grammarians, at such time a•• Antioch was taken by Chosroes, that is, on the year of Christ 540. Vales. In Robert Stephens the rea∣ding is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as yet frequenting the Gram∣mer-Masters.
• † 1.7

  Or, swellings in the Groyn.
• e 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: That is, Servos & Colonos, my Servants and Husband-men. For 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 are Rusticks, or Tillers of Ground, who are likewise termed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as I have remarked at book 6, of Euseb. Eccles. Hist. chap. 40, note (••.) So Theophanes in his Chronicon pag. 139, speaking of Dioscorus Junior's Election; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, says he, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Where Anastasius Bibliothecarius renders it well, thus, Multitudinem Rusticorum, the mulitude of the Rusticks. Vales.
• f 1.9

  From this place, Evagrius's Birth may easily be found out. For, whereas he has said in the beginning of this chapter, that at such time as he wrote these things, it was the fifty second year of that Plague; and does now assert, that whilst he wrote the same things, he was in the fifty eight year of his age; it necessarily follows, that he had been born six years before the beginning of this Plague. Further, that Plague began on the year after Ba••ilius's Consulate, or, two years after the destruction of Antioch, as Evagrius has said above. Evagrius there∣fore was born on the year of Christ 536, or 537. Vales.
• g 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. That is, duobus his postremis annis nondum elapsis, these two last years being not yet overpast. Which I should not have remarked, had not I perceived, that both Transla∣tours have been out in the Version of this place. For Musculus renders it thus; Cùm autem ista scriberem, & annum aetatis quinquagesimum octavum agerem, & duo ista temporis spatia nondum elapsa essent, &c; But whenas I wrote these things, and was in the fifty eighth year of my age, and those two spaces of time were not yet overpast, &c. But Christophorson translates it thus: Cùm autem ista scriberem, quinquagesimo octavo anno scilicet aetatis, non biennio antè, &c; But when as I wrote these things, to 〈…〉〈…〉 in the fifty eighth year of my age, not two years before, &c. He had 〈…〉〈…〉 have said, intra hoc postremum Biennium, within these two last 〈…〉〈…〉 Vales.
• h 1.11

  These words are not to be understood so, as if four entire Indictions had passed from the beginning of this Plague, to that year where∣on Evagrius wrote these things. For four entire Indictions make sixty years. But, Evagrius has said above, that at such time as he wrote these things, it was the fifty second year of that Pesti∣lence. These words therefore are not meant concerning entire Indictions. For the Pestilence began to rage in the East, in the fifth Indiction, on the year after Basilius's Consulate, which was the year of Christ 542. From which if you count two and fifty years in order, it will be made the year of Christ 594. Vales.
• * 1.12

  Or, Was made up of many Dis∣eases.
• † 1.13

  Flix, or, Lask.
• * 1.14

  Or, Sur∣passing [all] ac∣count.
• * 1.15

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In the Flo∣rentine and Tellerian Manu∣scripts, 'tis written, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, For Philo∣stratus admires; which reading nevertheless I approve not of. But, who this Philostratus should be concerning whom Evagrius speaks, and where he should have written this, 'tis uncertain. Philostratus an Athenian Historian is mentioned by Georgius Syn∣cellus in his Chronicon, on the first year of the Emperour Aurelian. Vales.