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. I. Concerning the Election of [the Emperour] Ju∣stinus, and concerning his Moralls.

WHen therefore Justinian in this manner had fill'd all places with Disquietude and Tumults, and at the close of his Life had received the condign reward of such [Actings,] he departed to the infernall * 1.1 punishments: but Justinus his Sister's Son, who was intrusted with the custody of the [Imperial] Pallace, which [Grand Officer] the Roman Tongue terms a 1.2 Curopalates, is invested with the pur∣ple after his [death:] neither Justinian's departure, nor the Election of Justinus ha∣ving been made known to any person, save to those that were his Confidents, till such time as he appeared at the * 1.3 Ludi Circenses, † 1.4 in or∣der to his performing and undertaking what usually belongs to an Emperour. After these [Solemnities] therefore were over, when nothing of an * 1.5 opposition had in any wise been attempted [against him,] he returned to the Pallace. [By] the first Edict he promul∣ged, the b 1.6 Prelates who had been convened in all places, were sent home to their own Sees, in order to their worshipping God in the usuall and recei∣ved manner, no Innovation being made in relation to the Faith. And this Action done by him was highly commendable. But, as to his Life, he was dissolute, and * 1.7 altogether a slave to Luxuries and † 1.8 obscene pleasures: so ardent a lover also of other mens mo∣ney, that he sold all things for illegall gain, and revered not the Deity even in the Ecclesiastick preferments, which he made his markets of to any persons he could meet with, and publickly proposed even these to sale. More∣over, being possest c 1.9 with [two most contrary] Vices, Boldness and Sloth, in the first place he caused his d 1.10 kinsman Justinus to be sent for, a personage of an universall honour and esteem, both for his skill in Military affairs, and for those other dignities [which he had born:] he at that time made his residence about the Danube, and hindred the Abari from passing that River.

The Abari are a Scythick Nation who live in Waggons, and inhabit the * 1.11 Regions scituate be∣yond Caucasus. Which people, in regard they had been sorely afflicted by the e 1.12 Turks their Neighbours, [left their habitation, and] with their whole Families fled from them, and came to the Bosphorus. Then leaving the Shore of that termed the Euxine Sea, (where many barbarous Nations who had left their own dwellings, inhabited; moreover, Cities, * 1.13 Castra, and f 1.14 some Stations had been built [there] by the Romans, when either † 1.15 Veterane Souldiers, or Colonies had been sent thither by the Emperours:) they con∣tinued on their journey, engaging▪ all the Bar∣barians they met with, till such time as they were arrived at the Banks of the Danube, and g 1.16 had sent Embassadours to Justinian. From thence therefore Justinus was sent for, on pretence as if he were to enjoy [the advantage of] that Com∣pact which had been made betwixt him and the Emperour Justinus. For, in regard both of them were equall as to their Secular Grandeur and Power, and whereas the Empire * 1.17 hung as it were betwixt them; after many debates they had come to this agree∣ment, that he who was arrived at the Empire, should give the other the Second place; that so, by being Second in the Empire, he might be First in respect of all other persons.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, Ju∣dicatories.
• a 1.2

  Concer∣ning the Office of the Curopa∣lates, much to hath been already said by many per∣sons, to re∣peat which here is su∣perfluous; we will remark this only, that the Curopalates always went before with a Golden Rod, as often as the Emperour would appear in publick. Cassiodorus tells us this, in his Formula Curae palatii, in these words: Considera quâ Gratificatione tracteris, &c. Consider with what Gratification you are treated, how being adorned with a Golden Rod, amongst numerous obeysances, you seem to go first before the Royall feet. So also Corippus in Book 2. Chap. 7. De Lau∣dibus Justini Minoris; where he describes Justinus's procession to the Cirque [in these words,]

  —Tunc ordine longo Incedunt summi proceres, fulgensque Senatus, Ipse inter primos vultu praeclarus honoro, Fratris in obsequi••m gaudent Marcellus abibat. Dispositorque novus sacrae Baduarius Aulae, Successor Soceri, factus mox Curopalates.

  Concerning this Golden Rod which was wont to be carried before the Roman Emperours, Paulus Silentiarius speaks, in his description of the Church of Saint Sophia, not far from the beginning.

  —〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

  For I assent not to that Learned man, who hath rendred it, Aureas Secures, Golden Axes. And at first this dignity was small, for it was under the dispose of the Castrensis [See D^r Howells History, Second part, pag 64,] of the Sacred Pallace. But afterwards it began to be accounted the chiefest dignity of the Pallace, from such time as Ju∣stinus Nephew to Justinian bore it. It was a Civil, not a Military dig∣nity, as Alemannus thought, who (in his Notes on Procopius's Hi∣storia Arcand,) confounds the Curopalates with the Comes Excubito∣rum. Vales.
• * 1.3

  Or, Running of Horses in the Cirque.
• † 1.4

  Or, About to doe and submit himself to the usages of an Empire.
• * 1.5

  Or, In∣novation.
• b 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Nice∣phorus (book 17. chap. 33.) took these words of Evagrius as meant of the Bi∣shops, who had been banished by Justinian into vari∣ous places for their defence of the true Faith. But that word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 can not bear this inter∣pretation. Therefore Christophorson chose to interpret this place con∣cerning the Bishops, who from all places had been assembled together at Constantinople. But neither can I approve of this Rendition; in regard Evagrius says those Bishops were not convened at Constanti∣nople, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, in all places. Vales.
• * 1.7

  Or, O∣penly in∣volved in.
• † 1.8

  Or, Immense.
• c 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Some word seems to be wanting, which may be supplied in this manner; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 most contrary Vices. And so Christophorson seems to have read. Vales. See chap. 19. note (d.)
• d 1.10

  This Justinus was Son to Germanus Patritius, and Cousin-ger∣mane to the Emperour Justinus, as Johannes Biclariensis informs us in his Chronicon. Indeed, Germanus and Justinus Junior were akin. For Germanus was Justinian's Nephew by his Brother. But the Empe∣rour Justinus was the Son of Vigilantia Justinian's Sister. Further, this Justinus Son to Germanus had born the Consulate in the year of Christ 540. The Emperour Justinian had created the same person Master of the Milice throughout Colchis and Armenia, in place of Marti∣nus, as Agathias writes in his Fourth Book; but afterwards he made the same person Master of the Milice throughout the Thracia's; as Menan∣der Protector declares in the First Book of his History, pag. 99. Vales.
• * 1.11

  Or, Fields.
• e 1.12

  In what manner these Abari, or Abares, having been vanqui∣shed by the Turks, betook them∣selves into Europe, Theophilactus Simocatta relates, Book 7. Chap. 7. Vales.
• * 1.13

  Or, Camps.
• f 1.14

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In Nicephorus Book 17. Chap. 34, and in the Tellerian Manuscript, 'tis writ∣ten in one word, thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Sta∣tions, or Landing places; which I ra∣ther ap∣prove of. But I think this whole place must be thus written, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c, where many Barbarous Nations, &c, according as we have rendred it. Vales.
• † 1.15

  Or, Disabled.
• g 1.16

  In Justinianus Augustus's times, the Abares having passed into Europe, became first known to the Romans, as Theophilactus Simocatta relates in Book 7. Chap. 8: for when they had come to the places of Scythia and Maesia, they sent Embassadours to Justinian, on the thirty first year of Justinian's Empire, as Theophanes relates in his Chronicon, and Anastasius Bibliothecarius. But Victor Thunonensis mentions this Embassy a little later. Post Consulatum, &c. After the Consulate of the most famous personage Basilius on the twenty third year; the Em∣perour Justinian makes the Embassadours of the Nation of the Abari whence they had come, &c. This was the thirty sixth year of Justi∣nian's Empire. Concerning the same Embassy of the Abares to Ju∣stinian, Menander Protector is to be consulted in the First Book of his History, pag. 99 of the King's Edition, where he excellently well de∣scribes that Embassy, and confirms Victor Thunonensis's opinion. For he says, that Justinian died not long after. Vales.
• * 1.17

  Or, En∣clined to both of them.