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. XIV. How Constantius Father [to Constantine] be∣ing reproach'•• with poverty by Diocletian, fil∣led his Treasuries, and afterwards restored the money to [the owners thereof] who had brought it in.

WHen a great Report was spread abroad concerning this Emperour, that he was mild and calm, that he was a most excellent per∣sonage, that he was a superlative lover of God, and that, by reason of his transcendent clemency and indulgence towards his Subjects, he had hoarded up no money in his Treasuries: that * 1.1 Emperour who then filled the highest Station in the Empire, sent to him, and blamed his negligence in managing the publick affairs: and he reproach't him with poverty, alleadging this as an argument in confirmation of what he said, that he was possest of nothing laid up in his Treasuries. But Constantius entrea∣ted those persons who came to him from the Emperour, to stay some little time with him; then he call'd together those men that were possest of the greatest quantity of riches, who lived within all those Provinces under his Empire▪ and signified to them, that he wanted money, and that this was a fit opportunity wherein every one of them ought voluntarily to give a demonstration of their kindness and benevolence towards their Emperour. When they heard that, a 1.2 as if they had long since made this their desire, that an occasion might be offered them of shewing him their readiness of affection, ['tis said,] that with all imaginable haste and dili∣gence they filled his Treasuries with Gold, Sil∣ver, and other Riches; contending earnestly amongst themselves, that in giving they might out-vie one another: and this they performed with countenances full of joy and pleasantness. When this was done, Constantius gave order, that those persons sent from the b 1.3 Senior Augustus should be Eye-witnesses of his Treasures. Then c 1.4 he commanded them [at their return] to give attestation to what they had seen; [and added,] that at present he had drawn toge∣ther this Treasure and taken it into his own custody; but, that it had long before been kept for him by the owners of the money, deposited as 'twere with such d 1.5 Guards as are usually appointed to have the custody of Treasure. The Messengers were surprized with the strangeness of this thing: but Report says, that the most Benign Emperour, after their departure, sent for the owners of the money; and having high∣ly commended them for their obedience and good affection towards him, ordered them to take back all their money, and return home. This is one Act of the forementioned Emperour's,

which gives a demonstration of his Humanity and good Nature. This other Action of his [which followes,] contains an evident Testi∣mony of e 1.6 his piety towards God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  He means Diocletian.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Chri∣stophorson understood not this place; for he has ren∣dred 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, sta∣tuentes, re∣solving. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 has the same import with vota suscipere, to pray, or, desire ear∣nestly. Which term Eu∣sebius uses in another place, as shall be noted hereafter. Portesius therefore has ren∣dred this place righter, in this manner: His auditis, ac si de illâ ipsâ re vota jamdiu suscepissent ut id eveniret, quò se probare possent, &c. Further, after the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, readiness of affection, the verb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, it's said, must be inserted. Vales.
• b 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I reade 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as I found it mended in the Copy of Mor••us, Turnebus, S^r Henry Savil, and Fuketius. Further, I have rendred 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Senior Augustus. For so Diocletian is called in the Old Panegyricks and in Inscriptions. Vales.
• c 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In the Kings Sheets these words are added in the margin; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Which words some Learned man hath added by conjecture, as 'tis sufficiently apparent. I think there is only one word wanting here, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to give. I word it thus therefore, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Then he commanded, &c. Which sort of ex∣pression is usuall with Eusebius. Vales.
• d 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. At the margin of Mor••us's Copy 'tis mended thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. But this emendation is need∣less. For, amongst the Ancients, money was deposited in Tem∣ples, on account of securing it, and there kept by Guards or Watches of Souldiers, as Juvenal's Old Scholiast remarks, and Lipsius in his book de Magnitudine Romanâ. To these Souldiers therefore Eusebius alludes. By the term 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Palatini may also be meant here, who guarded the sacred Treasurie. In the Kings Sheets, 'tis over written in the same hand, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by Faithfull; which displeases not. In the Fuketian Manuscript 'tis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.
• e 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Doubtless the reading must be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, piety, as I found it mended in the margin of Turnebus's Copy. Vales.