History of the First Ten Persecutions, History 4 · Chapter 1

History of the First Ten Persecutions · History 4 · Chapter 1

p. 9CHAP. I. OF EMPEROVRS.

CONSTANTINE.

THE CHURCH of CHRIST flourished in time of the ten persecutions, as a Palme tree groweth vnderunder the burthen, and spreads out her branches by increasing growth toward Heauen. Sathan on the other part that pearcing and crooked Isai. 27. verse, 1.Isa 27serpent, who striues against the militant Church of GOD, both by might and slight: when his might faileth, it is time to trie his slight: which hee did by the Canker-worme of hereticall doctrine. Now therefore, let vsus intreat of the ARRIAN and EUTYCHIAN Persecutions in the three subsequent CENTURIES. Other Heretiques albeit they were fierce and cruell, such as the Donatists, yet their crueltie was like vntounto the stighling of a fish, when the water is ebbed, and she is not couered with the deepenesse of ouer flowing Similitude.water: the more stir she maketh, the nearer she is vntounto her death. p. 10But the Arrian and Eutychian Heretiques found Emperours fauourably inclined to the maintenāce of their errours, such as Constantius and Valens protectours of the Arrian heresie, and Anastatius and Heraclius fauourers of the Heresie of Euiyches. This support they had of supreame powers, strengthened the a…me of Heretiques, and made them able to persecute the true CHURCH of CHRIST.

Notwithstanding, betwixt the tenne great Persecutions, and the Arrian pers…cution, a short breathing time was granted by GOD vntounto his CHURCH, who will not suffer the rodde of the wicked perpetually to lie vponupon the righteous, lest they put out their hand vntounto iniquitie. The dayes of the reigne of Constantine, were the breathing dayes of the persecuted CHURCH: Men banished for the cause of CHRIST, by the Emperours edicts were returned from their banishment, restored to their offices, dignities, and possessions, which duely belonged vntounto them. The heritage and goods, of such as had suffered death for the cause of CHRIST, were alloted to their neerest kinsmen, and incase none of these were founde aliue, then their goods were ordained to appertaine vntounto the CHURCH. These beginnings of an admirable change of the estate of persecuted …seb. de vita …. lib. 2.men, wrought in the hearts of all people a wonderfull astonishment, considering within themselues what could bee the euent of such suddaine and vnexpected alteration.

The care that Constantine had to disburthen persecuted Christians of that heauie yoke of persecution, that pressed them downe so long, was not onelyonly extended to the bounds of the Romane Empire, whereinto Constantine was soueraigne lorde, and absolute Commander: But he was carefull also to procure the peace of Christians, who liued vnderunder Sapores King of Persia, Sozom. lib. 2. Cap. 14.who vexed Christian people with sore & grieuous persecution: so that within his Dominions, more then sixteene thousande were founde, who had concluded their liues by martyrdome. Amongst whom Simeon Bishop of Selentia, & Ustazares the kings eldest eunuch, & his nurs-father in time of his minoritie, Pusices ruler of al the kings artificers, Azades the kings beloued eunuch, Idem lib. 2. cap. 8. 9. 10. & 13.& Acepcimas, a Bishop in Persia: all these were men of Note and Marke, who suffered martyrdome vnderunder Sapores king of Persia.

p. 11While the cogitations of Constantine were exercised with meditation, Sozom. lib. 2. cap. 15.by what meanes the distressed estate of Christians in Persia might be supported: by the prouidence of GOD the Ambassadours of Sapores, king of Persia, came to the Emperour Constantine: whose petitions when he had granted, he sent them back againe to their lord and maister: and he sent with them a letter of his owne, intreating Sapores to be friendly to Christians, in whose Religion nothing can be founde, that can justly bee blamed. His letter also bare the bad fortune of the Emperour Valerian the VIII. persecuter of Christians, and how miserably hee ended his life: and on the other part, what good successe the LORD had giuen vntounto himselfe in all his battels, because hee was a defender of Christians, and a procurer of their peace. What peace was procured to distressed Christians in Persia by this letter of Constantine, the Historie beares not: alwayes his indeuour was honest and Godly.

In Constantines dayes the Gospell was propagated in East India, by Frumentius and Edesius, the brother sonnes of Meropius, a man of Tyrus. This Historie is written at length by R…ffinus, Theodoretus, Ruffin lib. 1. cap. 9. Theodor. lib. 1 cap. 22. Sozom. lib. 2. cap. 24. Ruffin. lib. 1. cap. 10. Socrat lib. 1. cap. 20. Theodor. lib. 1. cap. 23. Sozom. lib. 2. cap. 6.Sozomenus, and many others. Likewise it was propagated in Iberia, a country lying in the vttermost part of the Euxien sea eastward, by the meanes of a captiue Christian woman, by whose supplications, first a childe, deadly diseased, recouered health, and afterward the Queene of Iberia her selfe was relieued from a perilous and dangerous disease, by her prayers made to CHRIST. The King of Iberia sent Ambassadours to Constantine, crauing of him, that hee would send Preachers and Doctors to the countrey of Iberia, who might instruct them in the true faith of CHRIST. Which desire also Constantine performed, with great gladnesse of heart.

Now to returne and to speake of the Dominions subject to the Romane Empire, Constantine the sonne of Constantius Chlorus, begun to reigne in the yeere of our LORD 310. and he reigned 31. yeeres: he gaue commandement to reedifie the Temples of Euseb. de vita Constant. lib. 4.the Christians, that were demolished in time of the persecution of Dioclesian. This commandement was obeyed with expedition, and many more large and ample Churches were builded, meete for the conuentions of Christian people. Likewise, p. 12the Temples of Idoles were locked vp: better they had beene demolished, and equalled with the ground: then had it beene a Theod. lib. 5. cap. 20. Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 1. Idem, lib. 3. cap. 11. & lib. 3. cap. 18worke of greater difficultie to Iulian the Apostate, to hauehave resto…ed againe Heathen Idolatrie. Many horrible abuses, both in Religion and maners were reformed by the auzhoritie and commandement of the Emperour, such as cubitus mensuralis, called foreign in Aegypt, whereunto was attributed the vertue and cause of the inundation of Nilus by the Aegyptians: therefore by Ruffin. lib. 2. cap. 30.the Emperours commandement this foreign was transported out of their Tēples. In Rome the bloody spectacle of Gladiatores, that is, of Fencing men, with swords killing one another in sight of Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 18.the people was discharged. In Heliopolis a town of Phoenitia, the filthy maners of young women, accustomed without controlment, to prostitute themselues to the lust of strāgers, vntil they were maried: this filthy custome (I say) by the commandement of the Emperour Constantine was interdicted and forbidden. In Iudea, the Altar builded vnderunder the Oake of Mambre, where the Sozom. lib. 1. cap. 8.Angels appeared to Abraham, and whereupon the Pagans offered sacrifice in time of solemne Faires, for bying and selling of Genes. 18.Gen 18Merchand waires in that place: This Altar (I say) was commanded to bee demolished, and a Temple to bee builded in the same place, for exercise of diuine seruice.Sozom. lib. 2. cap. 4.

The care this good Emperour had, to quench the schisme that began in Alexandria, shall bee decla…ed in the owne time, GOD willing. In somethinges Constantine was not vnlike to King Salomon, who finding his Kingdome to bee peaceably setled, hee gaue himselfe to the building of the Temple, of Palaces, and of Townes, which he fortified & made strong. Euen so Constantine finding that no enemie durst enterprise any longer Sozom lib. 2 cap. 2.to molest the peaceable estate of his setled Kingdome he builded magnificke Temples in Bethlehem, the place of the LORDS Natiuitie, vponupon Mount Oliuet, from whence CHRIST ascended to Heauen, vponupon Mount Caluarie, where CHRISTS Sepulchre was. Hee builded also a Citie in Bithinia, and called it Helenopolis, for honour of his Mother Helena, and another in Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 18.Palestina, and called it Constantia, by the name of his Sister. Also he builded a glorious Temple into Antiochia, which his sonne Constantius perfected, and to the dedication of that Temple a p. 13great number of Bishops were assembled, as shall bee declared hereafter if the LORD please. And finally, hee builded the Socrat. lib. 5. cap. 8. Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 6. Functii Chronolog.great Citie of Constantinople in Thracia, and called it nova Roma, whereas before it was called Byzantium. This towne was builded, anno 336.

In end the good Emperour intended to hauehave made warre against the Persians, and by the way hee was purposed to hauehave beene baptized in Iordane, where our Sauiour CHRIST was baptized by Iohn: but the LORD had disposed otherwise: for the Iohn, 3.good Em. fel sicke at Nicomedia, & was baptized in the suburbs of that principal towne of Bithynia, not in Rome, nor by …ilvester, but in Nicomedia, and by Eusebius. Howe this Eusebius coosoned Euseb. do vita Constant. lib. 4.the Emperour, and obscured the wicked purpose of his Hereticall heart from him, and continued in good fauour and credite with the Emperour, vntill the last periode of his life, so that he had the honour to baptize the good Emperour it wil be declared hereafter, GOD willing. In his testamentall legacie, he left his Dominions to his sonnes, ended his life happily, and was buried in Constantinople.

Constantius, Constans, and younger Constantinus.

CONSTANTIUS gouerned the East parts of the Romane Empire, and he reigned 25. yeeres. The other two brethren gouerned the West parts. Constantine the younger was slaine at Aquileia, after he had reigned with his brethren 3. yeeres. The Ruffin. lib. 1. cap. 19. Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 46. Idem, lib. 2. cap. 5. Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 32.Emperour Constans reigned 13. yeeres, and was slaine in France by the Tyrant Magnentius: so after the death of Constans, the whole gouernement of the Empire turned to the hands of Constantius. He ouercame Magnentius in battell, who fled to Lions, and slew his mother, his own brother, and himselfe: And so the Tyrant Magnentius brought himselfe and his kindred to a miserable ende. Constantius was infected with the Heresie of Arrius, by the meanes of an Arrian Priest, who had beene in Court with CONSTANTIA, the sister of the Emperour Constantine, and relict of Licinius. When shee was bounde to Ruffin. lib. 1. cap. 11.bedde by infirmitie, and sickenesse, whereof shee died, Shee p. 14recommended this Arrian presbyter to Constantine her brother, whereby it came to passe, that hee had fauour and credite The…. li. 2 cap. 3.in the Emperours Court. He procured the returning of Arrius from banishment, and was the first reporter to Constantius of his fathers testamentall legacie: And finally, he peruerted Constantius from the true faith, which his father had professed. So pernicious a thing is it to hauehave deceitfull Heretiques lurking in the Courts of Princes.

During the lifetime of his brother Constans, Arrianisme had no great vpperhande, because Constans the Emperour of the West protected Paulus Bishop of Constantinople, and Athanasiu… Bishop of Alexandria, and the rest of the Bishops whom the Arrians had most vnjustly accused, deposed, and persecuted. But after the slaughter of Constans, the Arrians were incouraged by the inconstancie of the Emperour, whose flexible and instable Theoder. li. 2 cap. 3.mind, like vntounto a reede shaken with the wind, was inclined to followe the course, that the fore-mentioned Priest put in his head. This Priest informed the Emperour Constantius, that the word foreign, that is, Consubstantiall, was not founde in holy Scripture, and that the inserting of this worde in the sowme of faith set downe by the Nicene Councell, was the occasion of many debates and contentions in the CHURCH of GOD and that the returning of Athanasius from banishment, was the Th…d. ibid.ground of a terrible tempest, whereby not onelyonly the estate of Aegypt was shaken, but also the estate of Palestina and Phae-nitia, and other places not far distant from Aegypt. Moreouer, he added, that Athanasius had beene the author of intestine dissention betwixt the Emperour Constantius and his brother Constans, so that Constans wrote minassing letters to his brother, either to repossesse Paulus & Athanasius into their places againe, els if he linguered in so doing (since their innocencie was cleared in the Councill of Sardica) hee threatned to leade an armie to the East, and to see them repossessed into their owne roomes againe. The Emperour Constantius was easily incited to wrath against Athanasius, and he sent Sebastianus, one of his captaines, accompanied with 5000 armed men, to slay Athanasius: but the Theod. lib. 2 cap. 13.LORD deliuered him miraculously out of their handes, when there seemed to be no way of escaping, because armed souldiers p. 15were planted rounde about the Temple: yet hee went safely through the midst of them, and was not discearned, albeit manie Arrians were present of purpose to designe and point him out by the finger, as a sheepe ordained for the slaughter.

Georgius, an Arrian Bishop, was seated in Alexandria, in the place of Athanasius, a wolfe in the chaire of a true Pastor, whose fury and madnesse was helped by sebastianus, who furnished vntounto him armed souldiers, to accomplish all his wicked and diuelish deuises. A fire was kindled in the towne: Christian Virgins were stripped naked, and brought to the fire, and commanded to renounce their faith: but the terrour of the fire made them not once to shrinke. When the sight óf the fire coulde not terrifie them, hee caused their faces to be so dashed with strokes, & misfashioned their countenances, that they could not be known by their familiar friendes: but they, like vntounto victorious souldiours, patiently indured all kind of rebuke for the NAME of Theodoret. ibid.CHRIST. Thirty Bishops of Aegypt and Lybia were slaine in the furie of this Arrian Persecution. Fourteene Bishops (whose names are particularly mentioned by Theodoretus) were banished, of whom some died in the way when they were transported, others died in the place of their banishment. Fourtie good Christians in Alexandria were scourged with wandes, because they would not communicate with the Arrian wolfe Georgius: and so pitiously demained, that some peeces of the wands were so deeply fixed in their flesh, that they could not be drawne out againe, and many through excessiue paine of their wounded bodies concluded their liues. Here is a viue portrat of the mercies Prouer. 10 verse. 9.Prov 10:9of the wicked, which are cruell.

The like crueltie the Arrians practised in Constantinople. Paulus Bishop of Constantinople was banished to Cucusus, a little towne in Cappadocia, where he was strangled by the Arrians. Macedonius was placed in his roome, a notable Heretique, who used no lesse crueltie, in compelling the Christians of Constantinople, S…crat. lib. 2, cap. 27.to communicate with him, then was used of olde, to compell Christians to sacrifice to the Idoles of the Gentiles.

The exquisite diligence of the Arrians in procuring Councels to bee gathered for establishing of their errour, shall bee declared in the owne place, GOD willing. Now to returne to the ciuill estate of Constantius. After that Magnentius had made an end of his owne life in most desperate maner, as said is, and his associate Britannio had humbly submitted himselfe to Constantius, and obtained pardon: yet was not the Emperours estate quiet and free of trouble: for there arose another Tyrant, called Silvanus, whom the Captaines of Coastantius armie in France did hastily cut off, and make out of the way. Also the lewes of Diocaesaria, Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 32.a towne of Palestina, rebelled against him, who were ouerthrowne by Gallas the Emperours coosen, and the Citie of Diocaesaria was leuelled with the grounde. This good successe Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 33.made Gallus somewhat insolent, and he slew Domitia…us, the Emperours great Treasurer in the East: therefore the Emperour gaue commandement to cut him off. Finally, the Germans, who had assisted him in his warres against Magnentius, they rebelled against him. And hee sent against them his coosen Iulian, the brother of Gallus, who subdewed the Germans, and hee likewise waxed insolent, and suffered the souldiours to salute him with the name of foreign, that is, of an Emperour. This was not vnknowne to Constantius, who made haste to preuent all further usurpation. But by the way as he was leading his armie through Cilicia, hee concluded his life, sorowing for this, as Theodoretus writes, that he had changed the forme of the Nicene faith.Theod. lib. 2. cap. 32.

Julianus.

IN the yeere of our LORD 365. Iulian began to reigne, and he reigned 3. yeeres. Ruffinus assignes vntounto him one yeere, 8. Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 21.monethes onelyonly: he was Constantius neere kinsman, namely. his vncles sonne: But he dealt vnkindly with Constantius, who made him Caesar, and giuegive vntounto him in mariage Helena his sister: Hee was brought vp in Christian Relig on, but was peruerted by Socrat. lib 3. cap. 1.Maximus an Ephesian Philosopher, whom Valentinian the Emperour afterward punished vntounto the death, as a practiser of Magicall Socrat. ibid.artes. In the beginning of his reigne he restored those Bisshops to their places againe, whom Constantius had banished, not for louelove of Religion, but to impare the fame of Constantius▪ Socrat. ibid.yet immediately after, hee manifested his affection towarde p. 17Heathnicke superstition, and opened the doores of the Temples of the gods of the Heathen, which Constantine had locked vp, Theod. lib. 3. cap. 4. Sozom. lib. 5. cap. 4.and incouraged others by his owne example, to offer sacrifices to the gods of the Gentiles.

Iulian absteined, for a time, from crueltie, and shedding of blood: not for pitie, and compassion of Christians: but rather for enuie: For he enuyed the glorie of Christian Martyrs, whose magnanimitie, courage, and constant perseuerance in the faith of CHRIST vntounto the death, was commended in the Theod. lib. …. cap. 8.mouthes of all men. But hee indeuoured by subtile and craftie meanes to vndoe Christian Religion. Hee debarred the children of Christians from Schooles, and from the vse of Learning: Also hee debarred them from warre-fare, from offices of gouernement of Romane Prouinces, and from offices of Socra. lib. 13 & 14. Sozom. lib. 5 cap. 15.Collectorie of money: and burthened them with paiment of heauie taxations: which taxations also the auaritiousnes of the Deputies of Prouinces increased, & made them more grieuous and intollerable. Neuerthelesse, when Christians complained of the vnrighteous dealing of the Deputies, the Emperour mocked them, and said, their happinesse was increassed, according to the speech of CHRIST their LORD and Maister, Blessed are they, who suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake.Matth. 5.Matt 5

Likewise, in the market places of Cities, hee set vp his owne Image, with the Effigies of the gods of the Heathen pictured rounde about it: to the ende, that whosoeuer should doe ciail reuerence to the Emperours Image, might also seeme Theod. lib. 3. cap. 16.to worshippe the gods of the Gentiles: And by the contrarie, they who woulde not bowe to the gods of the Gentiles, might seeme also to refuse all due reuerence to the Emperour. When hee distributed golde to his Captaines and Warriours (as the custome was) hee used a forme of distributing not accustomed before, to hauehave an altar neere vntounto his Princely throne, and coales burning vponupon it, and incense vponupon a table neere vntounto the altar: whereby it came to passe, that no man receiued golde, before Sozom. lib. 5. cap. 17.he cast incense vponupon the coales of the altar: by this subtile artifice circumuenting many, who knew not, that it was Iulians purpose to intangle them with the rites of idolatrous seruice. In Antiochia, and in the Region round about, he dedicated all p. 18the Fountaines to the Goddesses of the Gentiles, and caused all the victuall that was to be solde in market places, to be sprinckled with Heathnicke holy water. Neu…rthelesse, Ch…istians, without scruple of conscience, dranke of the water that was in the Welles, and ate of the meat which they bought in the market, beeing fully perswaded, that to the cleane all thinges are Titus 1. verse, 15. 1. Cor. 10. verse, 25.Titus 11 Cor 10cleane: and againe, it is written, Whatsoeuer is solde in the …hambles, eat ye, and aske no question for conscience sake. The libertie that Iuuentius and Maxentius, two worthie Warriours, used in reprouing the Emperour in his face, for his Heathnicke superstition, moued Iulian to such wrath, that hee punished them vntounto the dea…h: And so by degrees the policie and wisedome of Iulian in end breakes foorth into the fruites of crueltie and shedding of Theod. lib. 3 cap. 15.blood.

Albeit no publicke mandate of Iulian was set soorth, commanding to persecute Christians, yet by many euident testimonies it was knowne to the people, that the Emperour hated them, and that no man woulde incur punishment, for outrage and violence used against them. Therefore in the towne of Sebaste, the Sepulchre of Iohn the Baptist was opened, his bones Ruffin. lib. 2. cap. 28.were brunt, and the ashes scattered abroad. Likewise the wicked men of Gaza and Ascalon, killed Preachers and holy Virgins, ripped their bellies, filled them with barlie, and cast their bodies to the swine to be eaten. Cyrillus also, a Deacon in Hierapolis, a towne of Phoenicia, at the foot of Mount Libanus, who in time of the reigne of Constantine had broken in pieces the images Theodor. li 3 cap. 6.of the Gentiles, was taken by them, his bellie was ript, his liuer was drawne out of his bodie, which with Barbarous inhumanitie they chawed with their teeth. But the LORD suffered not such vnkouth crueltie to escape vnpunished: for the teeth of those who committed this fact of vnnaturall inhumanitie, fell out of their jaw-bones, their tongues: otted within their Theodor. li. 3 cap. 7.mouthes, and their eyes were darkned and blinded: a just and deserued punishment of bruitish Sauages practised by men. Marcus A…ethusius had his bodie ouerlaide with honie, and it was hung vp in hot summer weather, to be molested with wasps and flies. In Alexandria many Christians were slaine for discouering the abominations of the Pagans, especially in sacrificing p. 19Theod. ibid.to Mythra bloody sacrifices of reasonable creatures. Among others, Georgius the Arrian Bishop was bound vntounto a Camell, Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 2.and both hee and the Camell were burned with fire: whom no man counts a martyr, because he kept not the true faith. In the countrey of Phrygia, and towne of Miso, Macedonius, Theodulus, and Tatianus, for breaking in pieces images, were broiled vponupon Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 15.hot grattes of yron. The persecution of Athanasius, which with great hazard hee escaped, by a stratageme, of turning backe his shippe in the face of the persecuting enemie, was procured by Philosophers, Sorcerers, and Inchanters, who were about Iulian, and affirmed that all their trauailes would be spent in vaine, if Ruffiin. lib. 2 cap. 33.Athanasius, the onelyonly barre, and obstacle of their doinges, were not made out of the way.

The wrath of Iulian was highly kindled against the inhabitants of Casarea in Cappadocia. This towne of old was call…d Maza, but the Emperour Claudius changed the name of it, and called it Casarea. The inhabitants of the Citie, for the most part, Sozom. lib. 5 cap. 4.were Christians, and they had of olde ouerthrowne the Temples of Iupiter and Apollo, and the Temple of Fortune (which onelyonly remained) they ouerthrew in Iulians owne time. For this cause Iulian rased the name of Caesarea, out of the roll of Cities and exacted from them 300 pound weight of golde, compelled their Cleargie to serue in warrefare: And finally, he threatned to punish vntounto the death all the inhabitants of Casarea; but the righteous LORD cutted the cordes of the wicked, and hee had not power to performe all his bloody designes.

He had intention to fight against the Persians, yet would hee doe nothing without consultation of his gods. Hee sent his most assured friendes to all the Oracles within the Romane Dominions, and he himselfe would inquire at the Oracle of Apollo in Daphne, what should be the successe of his enterprises. The Th…odor. lib. … cap. 9, 10 Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 18. 19.answere of Apollo was, that hee was hindered by the dead, to giuegive his responses. Hereof it came to passe, that Iulian gaue libertie to Christians, to transport the bones of the Martyr Babylas. About the same time fire came downe from heauen, and destroyed the Temple of Apollo in Daphne, and beate the image of Apollo in pieces, like vntounto the lightest and smallest powder, Theodoret. ibid.or dust.

p. 20Moreouer, he gaue libertie to the Iewes, to returne to Hierusalem, to build their Temple, & to offer sacrifices conforme to the Ruffin. lib. 1. cap. 37. 38. 39. Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 20. Theod lib. 3. cap. 20. Sozom. lib. 5 cap. 22. Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 21.law of Moses: not for louelove he caried toward the Iewes, but for hatred of the Christians: therefore the worke prospered not, but was hindered by earthquake, fire & a mightie tempest of wind. Marke how eueryevery thing this hatefull enemy of CHRIST enterprised, had an euill successe. Iulian arriued at Ctesiphon the Metrapolitane towne of Chaldea, after that Babylon was ruined. The king of Persia had his people in better preparation then the Emp. looked for: therefore he tooke deliberation to returne back againe to the bounds of the Romane dominions: but hee who was deceitful al his dayes, was in end deceiued by an old Persian captiue, Sozom. lib. 6 cap. 1. 2.who led the Emp. into a barren wildernes, where he concluded his life, wounded with a darte: but it remaines vncertaine by whom hee was slaine.

Jouinianus.

AFTER the death of Iulian, Iouinian was chosen, by the Romane armie, to be Emperour, but liued not fully 8. months Ruffin. lib. 2. cap. 1.in his Emperiall dignity. He accepted not the souerainty, vntill the time the whole army with uniforme consent acknowledged themselues to be Christians. He made a couenant of peace with the K. of Persia, such as the necessity of a distressed army compelled him to condiscend vntounto: for Nisib…s, a great Citie in Mesopotamia, with some dominions in Syria, were resigned ouer to the Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 21. 22.king of Persia. The blame of this scathfull capitulation, was imputed to the temerity of Iulian the apostate, who had brunt with fire the ships that should hauehave brought victualles to the armie, and gaue hasty credite to a Persian captiue. When he had reduced the army to the bounds of the Romane dominions, hee buried the dead body of Iulian in Tarsus, a towne of Cilicia: and he reduced from banishmēt the worthy captain Valentinian, whom Theod. lib. 4, cap. 2. 3.Iulian had banished, together with the Bishops banished from their places, or compelled to lurke: & inspecial Athanasius, whose counsel he was resolued to follow in matters of Faith & Church Theod. lib. 4. cap. 4.gouernement. In end, he tooke purpose to goe to Constantinople: p. 21but by the way, in the Confines of Galatia and Bithinia, hee concluded Sozom. lib. 6. cap. 6.his life in a Village called Dadastana.

Valentinianus and Valens.

AFTER the death of Iouinian, the Romane armie choosed Valentinian to be Emperour, who reigned 13. yeeres. In whom was accomplished which is promised in the Gospell, to render an hundreth-folde in this life, to them who suffer any losse for for CHRISTS sake, & in the world to come eternal life. Valentinian CHRISTES sake lost his office in Iulians Court, and hee receiued Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 31.in this world a kingdome, and hath a greater recompence of reward laid vp for him in heauē. The magnamimus courage of Valentinian in beating on the face that heathē Priest, who sprinkled Ruffin. lib. 2. cap. 2.holy water vponupon his garments, whereby he thought his garmēts to be contaminate, & not his body sanctified. This couragious fact was the cause wherefore Iulian banished him to Miletina, a Theod. lib. 3. cap. 16.town in Armenia. He was relieued from banishment in the dayes of Iouinian, & was made Emp. after his death. He was borne in a Sozom. lib. 6 cap. 6.town of Panonia, called Cibale: he addressed himselfe immediatly after his acceptation of the Emperial souerainty, to Constantinople, and within the space of 30. dayes he choosed his brother to be his associate in the gouernement: in such sort, that the Emp. Valentinian gouerned the West, and the Emp. Valens gouerned Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 1.the Easterne parts of the Romane Dominions.

The Emp. Valens finding the Persians to be quiet, and disposed to keepe the couenant of peace bounde vp in the dayes of Iouinian, he vndertooke an vnsupportable warre-fare against the Homousians. The usurpation of the Tyrant Procopius, did somewhat slacken the readines and quicknes of his attempts: but after Procopius was deliuered into the handes of the Emp. Valens, by Agelon and Gomarius his Captaines, hee rent in pieces the body of Procopius, by bowing downe to the ground the toppes of strong trees, whereunto he caused the legges of Procopius to be fastened. The bodies of Agelon and Gomarius, the two Captaines Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 5.who betrayed Procopius, were cutted in twaine with sawes of yron. In which fact the Emp. Valens had no regarde to the oath of GOD, which he made vntounto them for their safetie.

p. 22Procopius being subdewed, hee bended all his might against the Homousians: He banished Mil…tius, Bishop of Antiochia, to Theodor. lib. 4 cap. 13.Armenia: Eusebius Bishop of Samosata to Thracia: Pelagius Bishop of Laodicea, to Arabia. The towne of Samos…ta was so affectioned to their owne Pastor Eusebius, that they would not communica…e Theod. ibid.with Eunomius, whom the Arrians sent to fill his place, Val…ns was filled with wrath against the Fathers conueened in the Councill of Lampsacum (this is a towne neere vntounto the straite Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 6.firth of Hellespontus) because they adhered fast vntounto the Nicene faith. In Constantinople he not onelyonly banished the Homousians, but also the Novatians, & their Bishop Agelius, because they would not consent with the Arrians in the matter of faith. In Edessa, a towne of Mesopotamia, the Emperour gaue commandement to slay the Homousians, who were assembled together in the Ruffin. lib. 2. cap. 5.Church: but the feruent zeale of one woman, that ran in haste through the rankes of souldiers, drawing with her, her young Theod. lib. 4. cap. 17.and tender child, together with her couragious answere to the Captaine, staied the rage of the Emperour wonde…fully: for she counted it a sweet fellowship, that she and her babe should bee found amongst the number of these, who were counted worthie Sozom. lib. 6. cap. 18.to suffer death for the NAME of CHRIST. Neuerthelesse the Emperour banished of men who dwelt in Edessa. especially of such as were in spiritual offices, to the number of fourscore, whom he commanded, by two and two, to bee dispersed through Thracia, Arabia, and Thebaida. The inuincible courage of Basilius, Bishop of Casarea in Cappadocia, the peaceable death of Athanasius, which hapned in the verie time of the Persecution of this Arrian Emperour Valens, together with the surie & madnesse of the Arrian Bishop Lucius, intruded in Alexandria, All these thinges, GOD willing, shall bee touched in their owne places.

Amongst all the facts of vnspeakeable cruelty committed by Valens, o…e fact ouerwent all the rest. While the Emperour was at Nicomedia, fourescore Ambassadours were directed vntounto him: Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 16.amongst whom Menedemus, Urbanus, and Theodorus, were the chiefe. These complained to the Emperour, of the manifolde injuries done to the Homousians. The Emperour gaue commandement Theod. lib. 4. cap. 24.to Modestus, the Gouernour of his armie, to embarke p. 23them into a ship, as if they were to bee banished vntounto some remote and far distant place: but secret direction was giuen vntounto the ship-men, to set the ship on fire, & to retire themselues into a boat. So it came to passe, that these fourscore Martyrs circumuented Sozom. lib. 6. cap. 14.by the craft of Valens, glorified the NAME of CHRIST, by patient suffering of many deathes at one time, both tormented by fire, and drowned in water.

Terentius and Traianus, two worthie Captaines, used some libertie in admonishing the Emperour to absteine from persecuting of innocent people, because his fighting against GOD procured Theo. lib. 4. cap. 34.good successe to the Barbarians: but the LORD was minded to destroy him, therefore hee coulde receiue no wholsome admonition: for a number of the nation of the Gothes, whom he intertained as souldiers, meet to defend his Dominions against the inuasion of forrainers and strangers, they began to waste Ruffin. lib. 2. cap. 13.the countrey of Thracia: and they faught against the Emperour Valens, and preuailed against him: so that he fled, and was ouertaken in a certaine Village, which the Gothes set on fire. So this Emperour died miserably, brunt with fire by his enemies, without succession, and left his name in curse and execration to all ages, after he had reigned fifteene or sixteene yeeres, as Sozomenus Sozom. lib. 7. Cap. 40.reckoneth.

Nowe to returne to the Emperour Valentinian: Hee was a defender of the true faith, and was so highly offended against his brother Valens, that hee would make him no support against the inuasion of the Gothes: for he said, it was an impious thing, Theo. lib. 4. cap. 12.to strengthen the hande of a man, who had spent his dayes in warrefare against GOD, and his CHURCH. In his dayes the Sarmatians inuaded the bounds of the Romane Dominions. Valentinian prepared a mightie armie to fight against them: but they sent vntounto him Ambassadours, to intreate for peace. When the Emperour sawe that they were but a naughtie people, hee Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 31.was moued with excessiue anger, whereby he procured the ruptu…e of some arters, or vaines, whereupō followed great effusion of blood. And so he himselfe died, leauing behind him two sons, Sozom. lib. 6. cap. 36.Gratianus, whose mother was Seuera, and Valentinian the second, whose mother was Iustina.

p. 24Gratianus, Valentinianus the second, and Theodosius.

GRATIANUS, the sonne of Valentinian, after the death of Valens his fathers brother, had the gouernament both of Ruffin. lib. 2. cap. 13. 14West and East. His brother Valentinian the second, was his associate in the gouernement of the West: But when hee perceiued, Socrat. lib. 5. cap. 2.that the weightie affaires of the kingdome required the fellowship of a man, who was ripe in yeeres, hee choosed Theodosius, a man of Noble parentage in Spaine, to whom hee committed the gouernement of the East, contenting himselfe and his brother Valentinian, with the gouernement of the West. Gratianus in the beginning of his reigne, reduced from banishment those Bisshops, whom the Arrian Persecuter Valens had banished. Hee was slaine by Andragathius, Captaine of the armie of Maximus, Socrat. lib. 5. cap. 11.who usurped the Empire of the West. This Andragathius, not by valour and might, but by circumuention, falshood, and treason, ouerthrew the good Emp. Gratian: for he made a report to passe in Lions, where the Emp. Gratian had his remaining, that his wife Sozom. lib. 7 cap. 13.was comming to visite him: and he in simplicitie went foorth to meete his wife beyond the riuer of Rhonne: but Andraga…hius (who was couertly lurking in a chariot) stepped out, and slewe Gratianus, after he had reigned with his father, with his brother, and with Theodosius, 15. yeeres.

His brother Valentinian, young in yeeres, was seduced by the intising speeches of his mother Iustina, after the death of her husband, in whose dayes she durst not presume to auow the Arrian Heresie: yet after his death, she intised the flexible minde of her sonne, to persecute Ambrose, Bishop of Millane, because hee Theod. lib. 5 cap. 13.would not consent to the Arriane doctrine. The zeale of the people affectioned to their faithfull Pastor, hindered the cruell purposes of Iustina. Likewise the miracle wrought at the sepulchres Sozom. lib. 7 cap. 13.of Protasius and Geruasius, opened the mouthes of the people to glorifie GOD, and to magnifie that Faith, which Protasius and Geruasius had sealed vp with their blood: these holie men of GOD were martyred in the second great Persecution moued August. lib. Confess. 9. Cap. 7.by the Emp. Domitian. The dolorous tithinges of the death of p. 25Gratianus, and the neere approaching of the tyrant Maximus to Italie, compelled Iustina to leaue the persecuting of Ambrose, & to Ruffin. lib. 2. cap. 16. Theo. lib. 5. cap. 14.fly to Illy…, for safety of her own life, & her sons life. Theodosius being mindfull of the kindnes of Gratianus toward him, led an army against the tyrant Maximus. The captains of Maximus armie, terrified with the rumor of he might of Theodosius armie, Socrat lib. 5. cap. 14.deliuered him bound into the hāds of Theodosius, & he was justly punished vntounto the death. Andragathius, who slew the Em. G…atian (as said is) seeing no way to escape, threw himselfe headlonges into a riuer, & so ended his wretched life. About the same time Iustina the mother of Valent. the II. she died, her son was peaceably possessed in his kingdome, & Theodosius returned to the east Ruffin. lib. 2. cap. 17.againe. But within few dayes he was compelled to gather a new army & fight against the tyrant Eugenius, & his chiefe captaine A bogastus, who had conspired against Valent. the II. & strangled him while he was lying in his bed. This battel went hardly at the beginning, but Theodosius had his recourse to GOD by prayer: & the LORD sent a mighty tempest of winde, which blew so vehemently Socrat. lib. 5. cap. 25.in the face of Eugenius army that their dartes were ramue…sed and turned backe by the violence of the winde, in their owne faces. Of which miraculous support, sent from aboue, the Poë… Claudian writes these Verses:

O nimium dilecte Deo! cui fundit ab antrisClaudian, d… 3. consul… ….

Eolus armatas hiemes, cui militat ather,

Et conjurati veniunt ad classica vent…

The tyrant Eugenius fell downe at the feete of Theodosius, to beg pardon: but the souldiours pursued him so stra…tly, that they slew him at the Emp. feete. Arbogastus, the author of al this mischiefe, hee fled, & being out of all hope of safetie, slew himselfe. Like as there was no sacrifice, wherein dung was not foūd, euē so the life & actions of this noble Emp. was spotted with some infirmities. Against the inhabitants of Thessalomca the Emp. was moued with excessiue anger so that 7000. innocent people were s…in, inuited to the spectacle of Playes, called Ludi circenses, & in Ruffin. lib. 2. cap. 18.the Grieke lāguage, foreign. For this fault the good Em. was reproued by Ambrose Bish. of Millane, & confessed his fault in sight of the people with teares: and made a lawe, that the like Theodor. lib. 5 cap. 17.cōmandements anent the slaughter of people, should not h…ue p. 26hastie execution, vntill the time that 30. dayes were ouerpassed: to the ende that space might bee left either to merciemercy, or to repentance. In like maner, he was angry out of mea…ure against the people of Antiochia, for ouerthrowing the brasen portrate of his beloued bedde-fellow Placilla. The Emp. denuded their Theod lib. 5. cap. 19.towne of the dignitie of a Metrapolitane Citie, conferring this eminent honour to their neighbour towne Laodicea. Moreouer he threatned to set the towne on f…e, and to redact it vntounto the base estate of a Vil age. But Flauiannus, Bishop of Antiochia, by his earnest trauailes with the Emperour, mitigated his wrath: (for the people repented their foolish fact, & were sore afraide) & the good Emp. moued with pitie, pardoned the fault of the Sozom. lib. 7. cap. 23.towne of Antiochia. His lenitie toward the Arrians, whom he permitted to keepe conuentions in principall Cities, was with great dexteritie & wisedome reproued by Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium: For hee came in vponupon a time, and did reuerence to the Emperour, but not vntounto Arcadius his sonne (albeit alreadie associated to his Father in gouernament, & declared Augustus) Theod. lib 5. cap. 16.whereat Theodosius being offended, Amphilochis very pertinentlie, and in due season, admonished the Emperour, that the GOD ofHeauen also would be offended with them, who tolerated the blasphemers of his onelyonly begotten Sonne, the LORD IESUS CHRIST. Wherupon followed a lawe, discharging the conuentions of Heretiques in principall Cities. In all these infitmities, it is remarkeable that the good Emperour … gaue place to wholsome admonitions. The excessiue raines hee was compe…led to vndertake in Wa…re-fare, hastened his death: for hee contracted sicknesse soone after his returning from the battell Theod lib. 5 cap. 26.faught against Eug…nius. and died in the 60 yeere of his age, and in the 16. yeere of his reigne. He left behind him his two sons, Arcadius to g…uerne the East, and Honorius to gouerne the West.