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. II. The demolishments of the Churches, and Butcheries of the Bishops.

WHere some of the Churches, after that former * 1.1 demolishment of them, were thrown down to the ground from their vast height; others were shut up by the Gover∣nours in their severall districts, least any one of those persons who usually frequented them, should meet there, or least they a 1.2 might render

a due worship to God. For that person who is∣sued out these orders, was of opinion, that prayers were not made there for him, being induced to entertain such thoughts as these from a consciousness of his own impieties. But he had perswaded himself, that all we did was in behalf of Constantine, and to render God pro∣pitious [to him.] Now, those [Presidents] who were his flatterers and soothed him up, being fully perswaded they should do what would be gratefull to the impious [Ty∣rant;] subjected the eminentest Prelates of the Churches to capitall punishments. Therefore, harmless and innocent persons were haled a∣way, and without any the least cause puni∣shed as if they had been Murderers. But some of them underwent a new sort of death, ha∣ving their bodies cut with a sword (as Butchers do meat) into a great many pieces: and after this barbarous spectacle far more horrid than any Tragicall representation, they were thrown into the depths of the Sea to be made food for Fishes. After this therefore, persons that were worshippers of God began to flye again, in such manner as they had done a little before. And the Fields and Solitudes were again be∣come the Receptacles of Gods servants. When the Tyrant had succeeded thus prosperously in these his attempts, he afterwards entertai∣ned thoughts of raising a generall Persecution against the Christians. And he had undoubted∣ly been master of his desire, nor could there have been any obstacle which might in future have hindred him from effecting it, had not [God] the defender of his own [servants,] (that he might prevent what would have en∣sued,) caused his servant Constantine to ap∣pear like some great Light in darkness and in a most obscure night, and led him by the hand as 'twere into these parts.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, Siege.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 In the Fuk Manuscript, and in S^r Henry Savils Copy, 'tis written 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; in book 10. chap. 8. of his Eccles. History 'tis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Vales.