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. LIII. That after He had Reigned about two and thirty years, and lived above sixty, He had a Body that was sound and healthy.

HE Compleated the time of His Reign in a 1.1 two and thirty years, abating some few months and days: but the space of His Life was about double as much. At which age his Body continued free from Diseases, firm, void of all manner of blemish, and youthfuller than any the most juvenile Body; beautifull to behold; and strong to do any thing whatever, that was to be performed by strength. In so much that, he could exercise as a Souldier; ride; walk; fight; erect Trophies against his conquered Enemies; and, according to his own usage, could obtain un∣bloudy Victories over his opposers.

Notes

• a 1.1

  This pas∣sage of Eu∣sebius hath led many persons in∣to a mis∣take. A∣mongst whom was Dionysius Petavius, who both in his An∣notations on Epipha∣nius's Book de Ponderibus, and also in his eleventh Book de Doctrinâ Temporum, confiding in the authority of Eusebius, was of opinion that Constantine died in the thirty second year of his Reign. Most of the Ancients have likewise written the same thing: viz. Philostorgius, Book. 2. Theodorus Lector in his Collectanea; Epiphanius, and the Authour of the Alexandrian Chronicle: and amongst the Latines, Aurellus Victor. But this opinion seems to me wholly absurd▪ For they who think thus, must of necessity affirm also, that the same Constantine began his Empire on the year of Christ 305, Constantius the fifth time and Maximianus being Consuls. And, that on the same year Constantius Augustus the Father of Constantine departed this Life. But, on the year following which is the year of Christ 306, Constantius Augustus was Consul the sixth time with his Colleague Maximianus, as all the Fasti do constantly affirm. Wherefore Constantine's Reign can be brought but from the year of Christ 306. Now therefore, whereas he died in the Consulate of Felicianus and Titianus, that is on the year of Christ 337, on the twenty second of the month May, as 'tis agreed on amongst all Writers, it is plainly made out, that Con∣stantine Reigned thirty years, and ten months, three days only ex∣cepted. For he had been created Caesar on the eighth of the Calends of August, as Idatius writes in his Fasti. Eutropius therefore and Rufinus are right in their affirming, that Constantine ended his Life in the thirty first year of his Empire. Our Eusebius also says true in his Chronicon, that Constantine Reigned thirty years and ten months. Further, whence it has hapned, that our Eusebius here, and most of the Ancients have attributed two and thirty years Reign to Con∣stantine, this, as I think, was the reason. Two years before his death, Constantine had celebrated his Tricennalia, in the Consulate of Constantius and Albinus, as Eusebius has related above. They thought therefore, that the thirtieth year of Constantine's Reign had been com∣pleated when those men were Consuls; which nevertheless is false, as I have noted above. Besides, from the beginning of Constantine's Reign, unto his death, two and thirty Pair of Consuls are reckoned. Whence it might have hapned, that they should believe him to have died in the thirty second year of his Empire. Further, some Chro∣nologers have ascribed the years of his Father Constantius, because he Reigned but a very short time, to Constantine. But the Reader is to be advertized, that the most Learned Petavius has at length chan∣ged his Sentiment, and has embraced the Common opinion concerning the years of Constantine's Reign, and concerning its beginning; as 'tis apparent from the Fourth Book of the Second part of his Rationarium Temporum. Vales.