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. VI. In what manner he gave order, that a Synod should be convened at Nicaea.

IMmediately therefore setting in array as 'twere a divine * 1.1 Army against † 1.2 him, he convened an ‖ 1.3 Oecumenicall Synod; by honourable Letters inviting the Bishops every where, to the end they should come with all the speed imaginable. Nor was it a simple and bare Order; but the Empe∣rour's appointment gave assistance to the business it self. For to some he allowed a Liberty of ma∣king use a 1.4 of the Cursus pub∣licus: others he supplied a∣bundantly with the assistan∣ces of Beasts of Burden. Moreover, a most convenient [place] was assigned for this Synod, a City [name∣ly] which from Victory has the name Nicaea, situate in the Province of the Bithy∣nians. When therefore the Emperour's Order was brought into all the Pro∣vinces, all persons [set out] as 'twere from some Goal, and ran with all imaginable ala∣crity. For the hope of good things drew them, * 1.5 and the participation of Peace, and [Lastly] the spectacle of a new Miracle, to wit, the sight of so great an Emperour. When therefore they were all come together, that which was done appeared to be the work of God. For they who were at the greatest distance one from another, not only in minds, but in bodies, Regions, places, and Provinces; were seen as∣sembled together in one place. And one City received them all, as 'twere some vast Garland

of Priests made up of a variety of beautifull flowers.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, Pha∣lanx.
• † 1.2

  That is, The Invisi∣sible Ene∣my.
• ‖ 1.3

  Or, Ge∣nerall.
• a 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 'Tis strange that Eusebius does here distinguish 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Beasts of burden from the Cursus Publicus▪ But it may be answered, that by the name of the Cursus Publicus Eusebius un∣derstood the Waggons or Chariots. In which sense Nicephorus took it, book 8. chap. 14. To some Bi∣shops therefore Constantine▪ or∣dered Waggons or Chariots should be allowed; to others, publick Horses, whereon they might be conveyed to the Councill. Vales.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; Va∣lesius ren∣ders it, and the oppor∣tunity of the pre∣sent peace.