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. XX. How Constantine made Laws in favour of the Confessours.

MOreover, the Emperour's Constitutions full of Clemency, were then * 1.1 published amongst us also, as they had been before amongst those who inhabited the other part of the world: and Laws, breathing forth Piety towards God, gave various promises of all manner of Goods; in regard they bestowed a 1.2 on the Provincials

throughout each Province, what was usefull and of advantage to them; and assigned to the Churches of God those things that were con∣gruous and convenient. And first of all, * 1.3 they recalled home those persons, who, because they would not sacrifice to Idolls, had been banished by the Governours of Provinces, and compelled to remove out of their own Country. Then, they freed from publick Functions, those who for the same reason had been b 1.4 adjudged to the Curiae: and ordered, that such as had been de∣prived of their Goods, should have them re∣stored to them again. Besides, they who du∣ring the time of Persecution, [having been strengthened] by God, had given a signall proof of their fortitude and constancy of mind; and were either condemned to the Mines, there to be tor∣tured with daily Labour; or adjudged to a De∣portation into the Islands; or had been forced c 1.5 to a slavery in the Publick Works; these per∣sons, freed on a sudden from all these disquie∣tudes and troubles, enjoyed their Liberty. Fur∣ther, such as, by reason of their egregious re∣soluteness in retaining their Religion, had been despoyled of the honour of the Militia, were recalled from this ignominy by the Emperour's Munificence: who gave them d 1.6 a free Liberty of choice, either of recovering their proper Of∣fices, and of flourishing in their Pristine digni∣ties; or, if they were in love with a quiet and retired Life, of continuing in future exempt from the troubles of all publick Functions. Lastly, whatever persons in order to their being re∣proacht and disgrac't, had been condemned to a slavery in the e 1.7 Gynaecia, them [the Emperour] set at Liberty as well as the rest.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, Opened.
• a 1.2

  In the Alexandri∣an Chronicle these words occur concerning Constantine's Liberality and Indulgence towards the Provincials; on the twentieth year of his Empire, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, he took off the Burthens of Artificers and Collators (that is, those of the Provincials who paid Tribute.) Vales.
• * 1.3

  The Laws.
• b 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Chri∣stophorson understood not this place; but Portesius has ren∣dred it, not unhappily, in this manner; Qui eâdem de causâ translati erant ad Curias, who for the same reason had been removed to the Curiae. Vales. The Curia were the Offices of Corpora∣tions, the bearing whereof was gene∣rally very chargable and burthensome; the persons who bore these Offices were termed Curiales.
• c 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Christophorson renders this place ill, thus, ad publica imperii opera obeunda vi compulsi, by force compelled to undergo the publick Works of the Empire. Eusebius terms the Mines, publick Bake-houses, Work-houses wherein they Wove, and Gynaecia; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: to which works who ever had been condemned by a sentence of the Judge, lost their Liberty. For this was termed a ser∣vitude of punishment. Now, 'twas usuall to condemn the Chri∣stians to such works as these, because of their confession of Christ's name. And, as to the Mines, the matter is notorious. But, of a condemnation to the publick Bake-house, we have an instance in the Acts of the Passion of Pope Marcellus. Vales.
• d 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Two words seem to have grown into one, which are, thus to be disjoyned, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. A little after, where the rea∣ding is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of recovering their Houses; I think it must be, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of recovering their proper Offices. For they had not been despoyled of their Houses, but of their Employments in the Militia. Vales.
• e 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Concerning the Gynaecia there is fre∣quent mention, as well in both the Codes, as in the Notitia of the Ro∣man Empire. See Brissonius's Lexicon. Further, persons condem∣ned to the Gynaecia, were clothed in a short coat made of Linnen, which was a servile habit. We learn this from the Passion of Ro∣manus the Martyr, which is published by Mombritius, and occurs in the Musciacensian Copy. Eadem vero die Maximianus jussit, &c. But on the same day Maximianus commanded, that the Christians who were in the Pallace should be ungirt. Maximianus therefore took notice to himself of many passing by, whilst they were loosing their Girdles: and he saw Isitius of Blessed Memory; and being in a rage, called him to him, and stript him of the garments wherewith he was clothed, and clothed him in a Linnen-short-coat, and put him into the Gynaeceum to the Wool-Workers, in order to his reproach. Further, the Fuketian Manuscript has this place written thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is the truer rea∣ding no doubt, and we have followed it in our Version. Vales. The Gynaecium or Gynaiceium (says Brissonius in his Work de Verbo. Significat. book 7. fol. 254, Edit. Paris. 1596,) signifies the Weaving-House appointed for making the Garments of the Emperour. The Em∣perours had Slaves of both Sexes employed in their Gynaecia. They had likewise Weaving-Houses for Linnen Garments, termed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Linyphia, which we find mentioned in Chap. 34 of this Second Book.