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 Marriage of Mauricius and Augusta.

MAURICIUS, After he had ob∣tained the Empire, in the first place made provision for his Marriage. And, agreeable to the solemn usage of Emperours, he takes to Wife Augusta, who was also called Constantina. The pomp of those Nuptialls was most magnificently perfor∣med, and Banquets and Jolity [celebrated and observed] in every place of the City. At this Wedding were present Piety and Imperial Dignity, which [two] guarded [Mauricius and Constantina] in the gracefullest manner imaginable, and presented them with the richest Gifts. For, the † First ‖ produced the Father and the Mother [of Mauricius,] (a thing never known to have hapned to any Emperour before,) who consecrated the Wedding with their Comely Gray-hairs and Venerable Wrin∣cles; his Brethren also, eminent for their Shape, Stature, and Comeliness, who adorned the Nupti∣all Pomp. The Second [presented] a Robe interwoven with Gold, adorned with Purple and Indian Stones; Crowns also of the highest value, enrich't with much Gold and the va∣rious brightnesses of Gems; all those personages likewise, which bore Offices in the Imperial Pallace, and were enrolled in the Militia; who carried Nuptiall Tapers in their hands, were a most magnificently clad to the end they might be known, and with Songs celebrated that Nupti∣all solemnity. In so much that, never was there amongst men any thing more Splendid or, Richer than that ‖ Show. b Demophilus, writing concerning Rome, does indeed relate, that Plutarchus Chaeronensis uttered a c wise say∣ing, viz. that for the sake of that one only † City, Virtue and Fortune had entred into a mutuall League. But I may say, that Piety and Felicity in such a like man∣ner had come together in one Mauricius; for Piety had vanquished Felicity, and would in no wise permit her to make an escape. After this, Mauricius made it his business to invest and adorn, not his Body only, but his mind also, with the Imperial Purple and Crown. For, of all the Emperours that were his Pre∣decessours, he alone Reigned over himself. And being in reality made an Emperour, he expelled out of his own mind that † Democra∣ticall dominion of the passions. And having Constituted an Aristocracy within his own mind, he shewed himself a living I∣mage of Virtue, instructing his Subjects to an imita∣tion of himself. All this is not spoken by me out of flattery. For, why should I utter these words with such a design, since † he is whol∣ly ignorant of what I write? But, that what I have said is really so, will be made evident, both by those Gifts conferred on him by God, and also from the successfull Ac∣cidents which have hapned at severall times; all

which must without controversie be by us af∣cribed to God.

Notes

• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, pride, or, voluptu∣ousness.
• †

  Viz. Piety.
• ‖

  Shewed, or, brought.
• Viz. Imperial Dignity.
• a

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In Nice∣phorus (book 18. chap. 8.) the reading is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Crowned; which I don't approve of. For 'twas not the custom amongst the Ancients, at least so far as I know, that those who were invited to weddings, should wear Crowns in like manner as did the Bridegrooms. Besides, the words next following do confute this reading. For Evagrius adds, that they were magnificently clothed for this reason, because they might more easily be distinguished, or known. But, that can have no relation to Crowns. For, they could not be known or distin∣guished by the Crowns which they wore. Vales.
• More pros∣perous, or, fortunate.
• ‖

  Or, Pomp.
• b

  Concer∣ning this Demophi∣lus, Suidas writes in his Lexi∣con; in transcri∣bing of whom Vos∣sius (in his book de Hi∣storicis Graecis,) was satis∣fied, and has added nothing further. But, in re∣gard I have had an account of his Coun∣try, and way of wri∣ting; in favour to the Studi∣ous, I will here annex it. That Damophilus therefore (or, Demo∣philus,) here men∣tioned was a Native of Bithynia, who wrote severall usefull stories and pas∣sages out of the books of the Ancients, as Julian informs us in his Misopog: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. Such writings were composed by Damophilus the Bithynian, of which he made a Collection out of various Authours, and composed Relations that were very pleasing both to the Younger and the Elder Student. I am sure Julian at that place produces a certain passage, which that Damophilus had Collected out of Plutarchus Chaer••nensis, in like man∣ner as our Evagrius does here. Vales.
• c

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, uttered a plain saying. I had rather read, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, uttered a wise saying; as Christophorson seems to have read. Further, the place of Plutarch, which Evagrius means here, is ex∣tant in his book de Fortu•••• Romanorum, not far from the begin∣ning. Vales.
• †

  Rome.
• †

  Popular, or, Ple∣beian.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: the originall import of this term is, a go∣vernment managed by many and those of the noblest Rank: but 'tis taken metapho∣rically here, for a company of thoughts of the best sort.
• †

  Mauricius.
• Or, Con∣fessedly.