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. VI. That, after Anastasius, Gregorius was made Bi∣shop, and concerning his disposition.

BUt after Anastasius, Gregorius is preferred to the Episcopall Throne, a 1.1 whose Glory, that I may use the Poet's expression, is far spread. [This person] from his younger years had been exercised in the Monastick Conflicts, and had striven with so much courage and constancy of mind, that in a very short time, ‖ 1.2 even during his youthfull age, he arri∣ved at the highest degrees; and Governed the Monaste∣ry of the b 1.3 Byzantii, where he embraced a † 1.4 Monastick life. [Afterwards,] by the * 1.5 order of Justinus [he pre∣sided over the Monks] of mount Sinai al∣so; in which place he fell into the greatest of dangers, by undergoing a Siege from those Arabians [termed] Scenitae. Nevertheless, when he had procured that place a profound Peace, he was called from thence to the † 1.6 Patriarchate. For under∣standing and virtue of mind, c 1.7 and in all other things he was the eminentest person of all men, and the most active in [effecting] whatever he had proposed to himself; ‖ 1.8 of an undaunted spirit, and a man not to be induced to yield, or to be afraid of the Secular power. He made such magnificent † 1.9 distributions of money, and used such a boun∣tifullness and liberality towards all men, that whenever he went abroad, numerous crowds of people, besides those that were his usuall at∣tendants, followed him. And whatever per∣sons could either see, or hear he was d 1.10 going forth, flock't together. e 1.11 The honour gi∣ven to the supreamest Powers [of this world] was inferi∣our to that [paid] to this man; for people were for the most part desirous, both of seeing him as near as pos∣sibly they could, and coveted to hear him discourse. For he was most excellently qua∣lified to excite a desire of himself in all persons, who up∣on what ever account came to and conversed with him. For, his aspect was admirable, and his discourse, by rea∣son of his pleasantness of speech, most delightfull; as ready as ever was any man, in the present apprehending of a thing, and most quick in action: in ‖ 1.12 choosing the best advice, and in passing a judgement, as well of his own, as the affairs of others, he was † 1.13 most pru∣dent. On which account he performed so ma∣ny and such great things, never deferring any business till the morrow. He was the admira∣tion not only of the Roman Emperours, but of them of Persia also, in regard he so demeaned himself in all affairs, as either necessity required,

or occasion would bear; f 1.14 [to which he was] never wanting, as I shall manifest particularly in due place. There was in him much of ve∣hemency, and also some∣times passion. But on the other hand, his Lenity and Mansuetude was not little, but rather † 1.15 abundant and extra∣ordinary. So that, that say∣ing which with great wisedom hath been utte∣red by Gregorius the Divine, might incompa∣rably well befit him; an Austerity so well tem∣pered with ‖ 1.16 Modesty, that the one is not injured by the other; but both are an ornament and com∣mendation to each other.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Musculus and Chri∣stophorson have rendred this place very ill, as if by these words Evagrius would have shown, that Gregorius Bishop of Antioch had been eminent for Poetry. But Langus has turned these words righter, thus: Cujus lata est Gloria, ut Poeta verbis utar, whose Glory is far spread, that I may use the Poets words. Vales. Evagrius makes use of the same expression at chap. 15, book 1; where he speaks of Isidorus Pelusiota.
• ‖ 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from the first down upon his Chin.
• b 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Johannes▪ Langus renders these words thus: Primùm verò By∣zantii Monasterio praefuit, But in the first place he presided over the Monastery of Byzantium. But E∣vagrius does not say, that Gre∣gorius was a Monk or Abbot of Byzantium, but that he was Ab∣bot of the Monastery of the By∣zantii. This seems to have been a Monastery in Syria, wherein Gregorius, whilst he was yet young, had received the Rudi∣ments of a Monastick life. Theo∣phanes in his Chronicon, pag. 206, says Gregorius had been Apocri∣siarius (that is, procurator, or, A∣gent] of the Monastery of the Byzantii. Vales.
• † 1.4

  Or, Un∣furnished.
• * 1.5

  Or, Per∣swasion.
• † 1.6

  Or, Arch-Bishoprick.
• c 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I conjecture we should read here▪ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and in all things he was the emi∣nentest person of all men. For so Evagrius expresses himself here∣after, at chap. 19. of this book; where his words concerning Mau∣ricius are these; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and every way accurate and immovable. Vales.
• ‖ 1.8

  Or, Not to be woun∣ded by fear.
• † 1.9

  Or, Con∣tributions.
• d 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I had rather make it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, going forth. In Nicephorus the reading is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, going. Vales.
• e 1.11

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Nicephorus read this place otherwise. For, in∣stead of the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 he has 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Mundane, or, Se∣cular. Which in my judgment is far righter. Johannes Langus has translated Nicephorus's words thus: Et honorem mundanis dig∣nitatibus debitum, prae viri hujus observantiâ secundo loco habebant, And they placed [or, had] the honour due to Secular dignities, in the second place, in respect of the observancy of this man. Vales.
• ‖ 1.12

  Or, Gi∣ving.
• † 1.13

  Or, Most sufficient.
• f 1.14

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. in my own judge∣ment, I have restored this place very hap∣pily, in this manner, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that is, when time, or necessity re∣quired, he would be always at hand. Vales.
• † 1.15

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• ‖ 1.16

  Or, Bash∣fullness.