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. LVIII. That Maximinus being a Persecutor of the Chri∣stians, fled away in a servile habit and hid himself.

SUch was the punishment, which the Beginner of the Persecution underwent. But this [Licinius,] concerning whom we now speak, who had been an eye-witness of these things, and by experience had had an accurate know∣ledge thereof; nevertheless, on a sudden forgat all; neither did he call to mind the punishment inflicted on the Former, a nor the revenging judgment [di∣vine justice executed] on the Latter. Who, because he strove with the greatest earnestness imaginable, to out-do the Former in a Combat of mischiefs as 'twere, gloried in his invention of new punishments against us. For he was not satisfied with Fire, Sword, and the Fastnings with Nails; nor with the wild∣beasts and depths of the Sea. But besides all these, he himself contrived a certain new sort of punishment, and by a Law gave order, that those members whereby we perceive the light, should be destroyed. Immediately therefore, vast numbers, not only of men, but of children and women also, having had the Sights of their right eyes, and the Junctures of their feet rendred useless, partly by Iron, and partly by † Cauteries, were thrust into the Mines, there to be afflict'd with daily Labour. On which account, the just judg∣ment

of God not long after seized this person also; at such time as, putting his trust in Dae∣mons, whom he thought to be Gods, and con∣fiding in innumerable Myriads of Armed men, he began an Engagement. For, being at that time deprived of the divine † assistance, he devested himself of the Imperial Habit, which in no wise became him; and having in a cowardly and most unmanly manner shrowded himself in the com∣mon crowd, purchased his own safety by flight: after this, he absconded in the Fields and Country Villages [clothed] in a servile habit, and supposed he might have kept him∣self concealed. But he could not thus avoid the great Eye † of Providence which inspects all things. For when he hoped his life was now in safety, being struck with God's fiery dart, he fell prostrate on the ground; and his whole body was in such a manner consumed by a blow given him from Heaven, that the entire shew of its Pristine beauty vanished; and only his parch't bones, turned into a perfect Skele∣ton, like some Ghost, were left remaining to him.

Notes

• a

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Praeposition must be expunged. Further, this person termed the Latter is Maxi∣minus Tyrant of the East. Vales.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• †

  Or, Sea∣ring-Irons.
• †

  Or, Hope.
• Or, In∣vented.
• †

  Or, Of universall providence.
• Or, Figure.