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. XIII. Concerning the Election of Tiberius to the Em∣pire, and concerning his disposition.

ABout the same time, Justinus by the advice of Sophia, proclaims Tiberius, Caesar. At which Election [Justinus] made such a speech, as transcends all History, as well ancient as mo∣dern: the most Commpassionate God allowing Justinus this opportunity, both for a confession of his own sins, and also that he might be the Au∣thour of wholesome advice for the advantage and benefit of the State. For, at a convention a 1.1 in the Atrium of the [Imperial] Pallace (where b 1.2 ancient custome says such Solemnities were performed,) both of c 1.3 Johannes the Patriarch, whom we mentioned before, together with his Clergy, of the Magistracy and Honorati, and of all the Grand Officers about the Court; Justinus, when he had invested Tiberius with the Imperial Coat, and had cloathed him in the [Pur∣ple] * 1.4 Robe, with a loud voice spake publickly [these following words.]

Let not the Magnificence of Your Attire de∣ceive You, nor the Scene of those things which are seen: by which I have been imposed upon, and have rendred my self obnoxious to the Extream∣est of Punishments. Do You correct my mistakes, and withall * 1.5 Lenity and Mansuetude Govern the State. Then pointing to the † 1.6 Magistrates; You ought not, said he, in any wise to be per∣swaded by them; and further added, For they have reduced me to those Circumstances wherein You now behold me. [He uttered] severall other such like [expressions,] which put all persons into an amaze, and drew from them plenty of Tears. Now, Tiberius was very tall of Body, and besides his Stature, the Comeliest person, not only of Emperours, but of all other men, d 1.7 as far as any one may conjecture; e 1.8 in so much that, in the first place, even his very shape deserved an Empire. His temper of mind was Sweet and Curteous, [a person] that received all men kindly even at the first sight. He esteemed it [the greatest] Riches to be liberall to all men in reference to bountifull Contributions, not on∣ly as far as a necessity, but even to an affluence.

f 1.9 For he considered no••, what Petitioners ought to receive, but what it became an Emperour of the Romans to give. 'Twas his Sentiment, that that Gold was adulterate ‖ 1.10 which was Collected with the Tears [of the Provincialls.] Hence ('tis cer∣tain) it was, that he remitted the Collection of g 1.11 one whole years Tribute, to the Tributaries. And those possessions which Ada∣armanes had ruined, he freed from the Tribu∣tary Function, not only in proportion to the damage they had suffered, but also much above [the loss.] Moreover, h 1.12 those illegall Presents were remitted to the Magistrates, for which [Bribes] the Emperours had heretofore sold their Subjects [to them.] He also wrote Constitutions concerning these matters, ma∣king thereby provision for the security of po∣sterity.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the open Court [of the Pallace.] Nicephorus adds a word here, in this manner, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the open Court of the Imperial Pallace. Theophylactus makes mention of this place, Book 1, Chap. 1; and relates, that the Emperours were usually proclai∣med there; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 [says he,] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Which place the Latine Translatour has exprest in a long circuit of words, in this manner: Tiberius namque in atriam palatii juxta domum, in quâ multi ex herbis, seu frondibus, ad coenandum, dormiendumve tori, sive Lectisternia, vestibulum illustre, visendumque proscenium. Huc, inquam, gestatus, &c. Whence it appears, that he understood not what was meant by these words. Likewise Nicephorus Callistus, when he wrote out this place of Theophilactus omitted the latter words. But my Sentiment is, that by these words, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Theophilactus means that House which in Greek was termed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Because in it there were nineteen Accubita, or Stibadia, whereon the Emperour with his Nobles lay down and ban∣quetted at Christmas, and on the more solemn Festival days, as Theopha∣nes and Anastasius Bibliothecarius do relate in the one and thirtieth year of Justinian; and likewise Luitprandus in Book 6 Rerum per Europam Gestarum, Chap. 3; where his words are these: Est domus quae De∣caennea accubita dicitur, &c. There is an House which is termed the Decaennea accubita. It is so called for this reason, because nineteen Tables are spread there in the Nativity of our Lord. Whereon the Em∣perour and likewise his Guests do banquet, not in a sitting posture, as on other days, but by lying down. Near this House was the Tribunal, or Throne, in which the Emperours and Empresses were crowned. Nicephorus Constantinopolitanus, pag 176, speaking of Isaurus Leo; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (says he) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the Throne termed the Decaennea Accubita he Crowned his Son Constantine Emperour. Anastasius re∣lates the same, as does likewise the Author Historiae Miscellae, Book 21. The same Writer, book 22, speaking of Constantinus Copronymus: Anno 28 Imperii sui coronavit, &c; On the 28^th year of his own Em∣pire, the Emperour Crowned his Wife Eudoxia, after he had been thrice married, in the Tribunal of the nineteen Accubita. Hence 'tis, that Codinus (in his Origines Constantinopolitanae,) places 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Stepfimon, near the House of the nineteen Accubita: by which term [The Stepsimon] he means the throne whereon the Emperours were Crowned. Now, this House was, in the Third Region [of the City,] near the Hippodrome, as Luitprandus attests. Indeed, the Old Description informs us, that in that Region was the Great Cirque, and the Semicircular [or, half-round] Porticus, which was called The Sigma, and lastly the Tribunal of the Forum of Constantine. And 'tis very likely, that of that Porticus was made the House of the nine∣teen Accubita; for a Sigma is the same with a Stibadium or an Accubi∣tum. Moreover, the Church of Saint Stephen is by Codinus placed near the Tribunal of the nineteen Accubita, which Petrus Gyllius (book 2, chap. 15,) relates, from an Old Authour, to have been near the Sig∣ma. Further, this House of the nineteen Accubita, was also termed The Delphica, or, The Delphicum, as Procopius attests book 1. of his Vandalicks, pag. 116; and Victor Thunonensis in his Chronicon. Vales.
• b 1.2

  I can't tell why Evagrius should say this was an old cu∣stome, that the Empe∣rours of Constan∣tinople should be proclaimed in the Atrium of the Imperial Pallace. For the old custome was, that the Augusti should be proclaimed in the Seventh Milliarium, or, mile, from the City, in the presence of the Army, in the Campus, or field without the City. And Valens, [was] the first that had been stiled Emperour in that Suburb, by his Brother Valentinian. After whom, the following Emperours of the East were proclaimed in the same place, as I have long since observed in my Notes on Amm. Marcellinus's 26^th book. pag. 115, 116. The Emperour Zeno. also was Crowned in the Seventh Milliarium by his own Son Leo, as Victor Thunonensis relates in his Chronicon. Likewise Basilis∣cus was a little after stiled Emperour in the Campus, as Theophanes in∣forms us. Now, the Campus was in the Seventh Milliarium, as The∣ophylactus attests, book 8, chap. 12. But who was first saluted Au∣gustus in the Atrium of the Imperial Pallace, at Constantinople, I have not yet plainly found. Indeed, Justinus Junior seems to have been proclaimed Emperour there, as may be gathered from the first chapter of this book. Vales.
• c 1.3

  Theophanes in his Chronicon attests, that (not Johannes Scho∣lasticus, but) Eutychius was then Patriarch of Constantinople. For Johannes Scholasticus died on the Tenth Indiction, in the month August, the day before the Calends of September. And Eutychius was restored to his own See on the same year, in the month October, on the Eleventh Indiction, as Theophanes attests. On the year following (which was the year of Christ 578, in the Twelfth Indiction, on the 26^th of September,) this Eutychius Crowned Tiberius Augustus, as The∣ophanes and the Authour of the Alexandrian Chronicle inform us. But, on a more attentive examination of the thing, I have perceived nothing is to be found fault with here: for Evagrius speaks not here concerning Tiberius's being proclaimed Augustus, but of the Appella∣tion of Caesar granted to him. Further, Tiberias was made Caesar on the Eighth Indiction, as the Authour of the Alexandrian Chronicle informs us: at which time Johannes was Patriarch of Constantinople. Vales.
• * 1.4

  Or, Cloake.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, de∣light of mind.
• † 1.6

  Or, Go∣vernours.
• d 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I think it must be written, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as far as any one; &c. Nor do I doubt but Evagrius left it thus written. Our conjecture is confir∣med by the Tellerian Manuscript, wherein I found it plainly written in this manner. Away therefore with the rendition of Musculus, who translates it thus: Insignis magis, quà•• ut quisquam illi conferri possit, more eminent, than that any one might be compared to him. But Chri∣stophorson turns it in this manner; Pulchritudinis excellentiâ omnium opinione major, for the excellency of beauty, greater than the opinion of all men. Vales.
• e 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The reading in th•• Florentine Manuscript is truer, thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c, in so much that, in the first place, &c. Evagrius alludes to that known verse of the Tragoedian; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.
• f 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I had rather write, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. For he considered not, what Petitioners ought to re∣ceive, as the reading is in Nicepho∣rus, book ••8, chap. 1. In the Flo∣rentine and Tellerian Manu∣scripts, in∣stead of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 'tis written 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.
• ‖ 1.10

  Or, Which came from Tears.
• g 1.11

  There is extant a Constitution of Justinus Junior, wherein he has remitted to the Provincialls the Remains of the Tributes of the past year, untill the Eighth Indiction of the Cycle current. Which Justinus seems to have done by the perswasion of Tiberius, whom a little be∣fore he had Created Caesar, at the beginning of the Eighth In∣diction, as the Authour of the Alexandrian Chronicle informs us. Into this first Constitution therefore of the Emperour Ju∣stinus junior, the name of Tiberius the Caesar ought also to have been inserted. Vales.
• h 1.12

  At this present there is extant a Constitution of the Emperour Justinus junior, concerning the promoting Rectours of Provinces without reward. Which amongst the Novelt Constitutions of Justinus junior is the Fifth in number. In that Constitution Justinus gives permission to the Provincialls, that they may make known to the Em∣perour those persons whom they should judge fit to Govern their own Province; and the Emperour promises, that he will give forth the Codicills and the Insignia [Marks, Tokens] of Magistracy free∣ly, without any present or gift. Which Law, in regard it bears date on the eighth year of Justinus Junior's Empire, was, we doubt not, set forth also by the perswasion and suggestion of Tibe∣rius the Caesar. Vales.