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. V. What Licinius spaek concerning Idolls and concer∣ning Christ, whilst he was sacrificing in a Grove.

BUt when he was just about beginning * 1.1 a fight, he called together the choicest of his Protectors that were about Him, and those of his Friends for whom he had an higher value, into a certain place which by them was accounted sacred. It was a well-watered and shady Grove; but in it were erected various Statues, carv'd out of Stone, of those whom he thought to be Gods. To whom after he had a 1.2 lighted Tapers, and offered the usuall sacrifices; 'Tis reported, that he made this speech [to those that stood by him.]

Friends and b 1.3 Fellow Souldiers! These, whom we Honour, whose Adoration hath been handed down to us from our Remotest Ancestours, are our Country Gods. But he who Leads the Army opposed against us, having violated the Usages and Institutions of his Fore-fathers, has made choice of their impious opinion who believe no God; and hath erroneously embraced a certain strange God [procured] from I know not whence: And with his most filthy sign c 1.4 disgraces his own Army. In whom having put his confidence, He comes forth and takes up Arms, not so much a∣gainst us, as against those very Gods whom he hath abused. This present * 1.5 day therefore will evidently shew, which of Us two have erred in Opinion: and will give a judgment concerning those Gods who are worshipped by us, and of them [honoured] by the other side. For, either it will declare us Conquerours, and so most just∣ly demonstrate our Gods to be the Saviours and true Assistants. Or else, if this one God of Constan∣tine's who comes from I know not whence, shall get the better of our Gods, which are many, and at d 1.6 present do exeeed in number; no body in future will be in doubt, which God he ought to wor∣ship; but will betake himself to the more powerfull God, and attribute to him the Rewards of Vi∣ctory. And, if this strange God, who is e 1.7 now a Ridicule to us, shall appear to be the Victor, it will behoove us also to acknowledge and adore him, and to bid a long farewell to those, to whom we light Tapers in vain. But, if our Gods shall get the better, which no person can entertain a doubt of; after the Victory obtained in this place, we will proceed to bring a War upon those im∣pious contemners of the Gods.

These are the words Licinius spake a little before the Engagement, to those persons who stood round him. Which very Speech of his was not long after imparted to f 1.8 us who have been called to this History, by those who had been ear-witnesses of his very expressions. Af∣ter therefore he had made this Speech, he com∣manded his Forces to begin the Fight.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, The War.
• a 1.2

  It was the usage of the Hea∣thens to light Ta∣pers before the Statues of their Gods, as may be observed from the 22 book of Amm. Marcellinus, pag. 226, of Valesius's Edition.
• b 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. A term im∣properly used by Eusebius, instead of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ Vales.
• c 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In the Fuketian Manuscript 'tis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; and a little af∣ter, the reading there is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. He comes forth now against us; but much rather takes up Arms against those very Gods, &c. Which reading is truer, if I mistake not. Vales.
• * 1.5

  Or, Time.
• d 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Christophorson omitted the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 at present; in which term lies the whole force of the Sentence. For Licinius shews, that his Gods exceed in number at present; but in a short time will be superiour in force and power. Johannes Portesius, otherwise a silly Translatour, has not omitted the rendition of this word. For he translates it thus, Numero quidem ad∣huc potiores, as yet do exceed in number. A little before, I reade 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, this one God; as Turnebus has mended it at the margin of his Copy. Vales.
• e 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 'Tis the same as if he should have said. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, who is of yesterday or the day be∣fore. The impious Licinius derides Constan∣tine's God, because he was a strange and new God. For amongst the Gods, some were accounted patrii, Gods of the Country, others peregrini, strange Gods. The dii patrii were com∣mended for the ancientness of their worship. But the perigrini were new Gods, in regard they were lately procured or chosen. Cicero's words in his 2^d book De Legibus, are these: Novos verò deos, & in his colendis nocturnas pervigilationes fic Aristophanes facetissimus poeta veteris comoediae vexat, ut apud eum Sabazius & alii quidam dii pere∣grini judicati è civitate ejiciantur; But the new Gods, and the watchings all night long in the worship of them, have in such a manner been disquieted by Aristophanes the pleasantest Poet of Old Comedie, that Sabazius and some other Gods having by him been judged strange, are ejected out of the City. The passage of Aristophanes, which Cicero means, was extant in his Comedie Lemniis, as Suidas informs us in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. There was indeed at Athens a vast multitude of new and strange Gods, whom they termed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Apollo∣phanes the Poet had put together their names and Series in his Cretensi∣bus, as Hesychius attests in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Menander Rhetor or rather Alexander in methodo generis demonstrativi pag. 1612, observes; that some Gods were termed ancienter, others more modern, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. But Portesius and Christopherson who has followed him, have rendred this place ill; their mistake arose from hence, because they perceived not, that the Adverb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 does sometimes signifie the same with nuper, lately, as I have noted at book 4. of the Ecclesiastical History chap. 8. note (d.) These remarks I had made here formerly, having followed the Geneva Edition▪ but afterwards I understood, that in Robert Stephens's Edition and in the Manuscript Copies the reading was, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, who is now a Ridicule to us. Which reading the Translatours have followed, and therefore are in no wise to be blamed. Vales.
• f 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to us who have been called to this History. In Moraeus's Copy at the margin 'tis mended 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 who compose; in which manner Eusebius expresses himself at chap. 8. A little before, in the same Copy of Moraeus 'tis well mended 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and to bid a long farwell to those: [In Ro∣bert Stephens 'tis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.] In the Fuketian Manu∣script I found it written, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to us who have been called to this History; which reading is right. Vales.