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. V. Concerning Germanus's being forced against his will to undertake the Imperial dignity.

BUt when the Inhabitants of Edessa refu∣sed to do that; they left Priscus there, and by force lay hands upon Germanus Com∣mander of the Militia a 1.1 in Phoenice Libanen∣sis, whom they create their Leader, and, b 1.2 as much as they were able to do it, their Emperour.

But, upon Germanus's refusall of that, and their urging it with a greater degree of heat and fierce∣ness, a contention was raised on both sides; he [striving] that he might not be compelled, and they [contending] to bring about [what they desired:] and when the Souldiers * 1.3 threat∣ned him with death, unless he would volunta∣rily undertake [that dignity they conferred on him;] and Germanus with a willing mind embraced death: at length, after they saw he could not be terrified, nor was to be aba∣shed, they betook themselves to scourging him, and maimed the members of his body, suppo∣sing he would in no wise indure those Tor∣tures: for they judged him not more hardy than Nature and his age would bear. Ha∣ving therefore set about this matter, they made tryall of him with a kind of Reverence and Compassion, and in fine forced him, though unwilling, to consent, and to swear [in a set form of words,] that in future he would † 1.4 continue faithfull unto them. In this man∣ner therefore they compelled him their Subject to become their Ruler, him whom they go∣verned to turn their Governour, and him a Captive to be their Sovereign. Then they displaced all other Officers in the Army, the Praefects of the Troops, the Tribunes, the * 1.5 Centurions, and Decurions; and put whom they pleased into their places, casting forth reproaches in publick upon the Empire. And, for the most part they behaved themselves to∣wards the Provincialls, with more of † 1.6 Modesty indeed, than Barbarians usually do: but were far from being c 1.7 Fellow-Souldiers and Servants of the State. For, they neither received the Annonae by appointed Measures or weights, nor were they contented with the d 1.8 Man∣sions or Quarters assigned them. But every one's Sentiment was his Law, and his will his set Measure.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In Nicephorus (chap. 11. book 18.) the reading is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 with a mistake on the other hand. For, it must be w••itten, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 For, there were two Phoenice's that were Provinces, the one termed Libanensis, the other Maritima. Vales.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I doubt not but it should be written, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that is, quantum in ipsis erat, as much as they were able to do it. Nicephorus confirms our Emendation, who instead of the foresaid words of Evagrius, hath substituted these; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as much as in them lay. In the Tellerian M. S, I ••ound it plainly written, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Vales.
• * 1.3

  Or, Pre∣tended they would kill him.
• † 1.4

  Or, Pre∣serve a fide∣lity to them.
• * 1.5

  Or, Those who com∣manded an hundred, or ten.
• † 1.6

  Or, Mo∣deration.
• c 1.7

  The Transla∣tours un∣derstood not this place. For Musculus renders it thus: Et erga Municipes quidem multò moderati•••• quàm Barbari faci••bant; Erga socios verò belli, & Reipublicae Ministros, admodùm ali••no erant animo; And towards free-denizons [or, those of the same Country,] they behaved themselves with much more of Moderation than the Bar∣barians did; but towards their Companions of War, and Ministers of the State, they were of a mind quite different. Christophorson has also rendred it in the same manner. But Johannes Langus, who turned into Latine Nicephorus Evagrius's Compilator, has expounded this place far better, thus; Et mitiores quidem illi in vectigales, &c; and they were indeed more mild towards the people who paid Taxes and Tributes, than the Barbarians are wont to be. But they were very far from being Maintainers, or Defenders of the Republick, or what ever else I may stile them. Nicephorus▪ instead of these words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Fellow-Souldiers and Servants of the State, had substituted these, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, But they were very far from being Maintainers, &c. Whence it appears, that Nicephorus understood not the meaning of these words of Evagrius, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Servants of the State. The Militia amongst the Romans, from the times of Augustus, was a kind of temporary servitude. Whence also the Souldiers were mar∣ked with brands on their skin, in manner of Servants, as Vegetius informs us. Moreover, the Missio Militaris, or, Military discharge, does plainly answer the Manumission, or, making free of Servants. Suidas (or rather a certain old Writer in Suidas,) in the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 tells us, that Souldiers were under Servitude, as long as they were in Pay. So also Petrus Chrysologus in his fifteenth Sermon de Centurione. Vales.
• d 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I agree with Musculus and Christophorson, who have mended it thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. For Musculus renders it in this manner; nec deputatis Mansionibus contenti erant, nor were they contented with the appointed Mansions. As often as the Roman Army was about making a long march, an Edict was pub∣lished long before, wherein all the Mansions, in which the Souldiers were to stay, were set forth; as Lampridius informs us, in Alex∣ander Severus: Itinerum dies publicè proponebantur, &c; The daies of the Marches were publickly set forth, in such a manner that an Edict was hung up two months before, wherein 'twas written: on such a day, at such an hour I shall go out of the City, and, if the Gods please, shall stay in the first Mansion. Then, at the Mansions in order, then at the Fortified or standing Camps, then when the Annona is to be received, and that also. Till such time as we are arrived at the Borders of the Barbarians. The Inns also, or Houses, wherein the Souldiers▪ either going to or returning from an Expedition, were to stay, were set out by the Mensores, or Quarter-masters; as Vegeti•••• informs us in book 2. chap. 7; and the Emperours likewise in the Theodosian Code, Tit. de Metatis. Vales.