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. XXVIII. That whilst he was praying to God, He shewed him a Vision; to wit, a Cross of Light in the * 1.1 Heavens, (it being then mid-day,) and an Inscription thereon, which admonished him, that by That he should Conquer.

HE called upon this God therefore in his prayers, entreating and beseeching him, that, who ever he was, he would manifest him∣self to him, and reach out his right hand [to his assistance] in his present affairs. Whilst the Emperour was putting up these Prayers and earnest Supplications, a most wonderfull sign sent from God appeared. Which [sign,] had any other person given a Relation of it, would not easily have been a 1.2 received as true. But since the † 1.3 Victorious Emperour himself told it to us who write this History, a long while after, namely at such time as we were vouchsafed his knowledge and converse; and con∣firmed* 1.4 his Relation with an ‖ oath; who will hereafter doubt of giving credit to his Narrative? Espe∣cially, when the succeeding * 1.5 Times gave an evident attestation to this Relation. b 1.6 About the Meridian hours of the Sun when the day was declining, he said he saw with his own eyes the Trophy of the Cross in the † 1.7 heavens, placed over the Sun, made up of Light, and an Inscription annexed to it containing these words, BY THIS CONQUER. And, that at the sight thereof, an amazement seized both him, and all his Military Forces, which followed him as he was making a Journey some whither, and were spectatours of the Miracle.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, Heaven.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, de∣monstrated. I think the reading should be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, received, or, admitted as true; and so Nicephorus seems to have read, book 7. chap. 29. So also I found it written in the King's Sheets. In the Fuk. and Savi∣lian Manu∣scripts, the reading is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, appro∣ved, or, entertai∣ned. Vales.
• † 1.3

  Or, Victor Au∣gustus.
• * 1.4

  † Or, Oaths.
• * 1.5

  Or, Time.
• b 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ Nicephorus (book 7. chap. 29.) has expounded this place thus; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, For being about noon on the march with his Army about him, the Sun verging towards the West, &c. So also Portesius has rendred Eusebius's words: Sub meridiem (says he) inclinante jam die, about noon, the day now declining. But perhaps the whole clause is to be continued in one breath, and the words of Eusebius to be construed in this manner, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, when the day was now verging towards noon. Which in∣terpretation is favoured by Zonaras, who giving an account of this Vision in the Gesta of Constantine, says it appeared 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, at mid-day. Indeed, in the King's and Fuketian Manuscripts, there is no Comma after the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but only after the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Comma is set. And yet in Socrates, (book 1. chap. 2.) who wrote out these words of Eusebius, after the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is set a Comma. Therefore Christophorson at both places renders it thus circiter meri∣diem, die jam in pomeridianum tempus aliquantulum inclinante, about noon, the day now declining somewhat towards the afternoon. Which to me seems foolish, For 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 cannot be said, but when the day declines towards the evening, that is, after the ninth hour of the day, as Nicephorus rightly took it. But how can that agree with the preceding words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c? For 'tis the same as if you should say, about noon towards the evening. Some one will perhaps say, that by these last words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Eusebius would mean, that that Vision was shown to Con∣stantine a little after noon. For the Sun going from the Meridian Point, afterwards by degrees verges into the West. But if Eusebius thought so, what need was there of so many words? For he might have exprest himself with more of brevity, thus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, it being now mid-day. Besides, Eusebius has said it in the plurall number, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that it might appear, that he meant not the sixth hour, but that whole space of hours which is ascribed to noon, to wit from the fifth hour to the ninth. Wherefore, I am induced to be of this opinion, that that Vision was presented to Constantine about the ninth hour of the day, whilst he was making a journey in company with his Army. And this is plainly confirmed by the following words. For Eusebius adds that Constantine being amazed after the Vision, whilst he was musing of many things within his own mind, night came on. Whence it ap∣pears, that that Vision appeared to Constantine and his Souldiers not long before night. In the Eleventh Book of the Historia Miscella. where this passage of Eusebius is produced, this rendition of it occurs, circa meridiem, declinante jam sole, about noon, the Sun now de∣clining. Vales.
• † 1.7

  Or, Heaven.