The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History Part 2, Book 1 · Biography 3
THEODOSIVS. 1.
The Life of Theodosius Senior, who dyed Anno Christi. 397.
GRatian Governing the Empire with Ʋalentinian the younger, finding that the Romane Empire daily decreased, and that the Barbarians waxed strong, and encreased daily, he found that the Common wealth stood in great need of a valiant, and worthy man to governe it: and knew that there lived at that time in Spaine, one Theodosius, the sonne of a noble Captaine, whose name was Theodosius also, whom Ʋalens had caused to be slaine, because his name began with Th. and the Devill had revealed to him, that after him should reigne one whose name began with those letters: this Theodosius perceiving that he also was in great danger upon the same reason, he retired himselfe into his owne Countrey, being as well for the Nobility of his ancestors, as for his owne valour and exploits in Armes, the most renowned, and of greatest account of any man in his time. Hereupon Gratian sent for him, made him Captaine generall of all the Empire; and shortly after, his fellow Emperour: Theodosius having received the Emperours letters, and accepting of the charge, with the greatest speed that could be, he went into those countreys where the Goths were, who knowing of his coming, gathered themselves together to fight with him: Theodosius being very desirous thereof, levied a sufficient Army, and having tryed his souldiers in some skirmishes, he gave them battaile, which was one of the cruellest and most bloody that ever was. But holy Theodosius carried himselfe so discreetly, and valiantly in directing, incouraging, and fighting, that through Gods mercy he obtained the victory, and A great Battaile.made an incredible slaughter of the enemies: and ceased not till he had wholly driven them out of Zeale.the Province: and then marching with his Army in good order to Gratian, he made him Emperour of Constantinople & the East. Presently he went thitherward and coming to Thessalonica, he fell sick of a dangerous disease, and much desiring to be baptized, he sent for the old Bishop of that place: and when he was come, he demanded of the Bishop of what faih he was: the Bishop answered, that the opinion of Arrius prevailed not in those parts, & that the new-found invention of his pestilent braine, had not crept in amongst them, but that all Christians in those coasts retained the authentick, and ancient faith delivered by the Apostles, and confirmed by the Councell of Nice: and thereupon the Emperour was willingly baptized of him; not long after he recovered his health, & so went towards Constantinople. A little before whose coming, Gregory Nazianzen was translated by the consent of all the Catholick Bishops to governe the Sea at Constantinople: but perceiving that some murmured, and objected, that he was a stranger and forreiner, though he was glad of the Emperours coming, yet he refused to continue any longer at Constantinople. Theodosius finding the Church there out of order, endeavoured by all meanes to reduce it to peace, and unity: wherefore immediately he gave Demophilus, the Arrian Bishop, to understand his pleasure, demanding whether he would embrace the Nicene Creed, set the people at unity, and embrace concord himselfe; which he refusing, the Emperour said to him, If thou refuse to embrace peace, and unity, I command thee to avoid the Hereticks banished.Church, and accordingly he, with many more of his adherents, departed, leaving their Churches to the Orthodox: Presently after the Emperour summoned a Councell of one hundred and fiftie Orthodox Bishops; he cited also the Bishops of the Macedonian A CouncelSect, hoping thereby to reclaime them; of which there appeared thirtie six, most of them out of Hellespont: there the Emperour and the other Godly Bishops used all meanes possible to reconcile them to the Catholick Church: but neither admonition nor reprehension would prevaile with them, and so they departed, professing that they would rather joine with the Arrians then with them: then the Councell proceeded to the election of a Bishop for Constantinople, and chose one Nectarius, a man of an holy life, and Godly conversation: they Decreed, that a provinciall Synod should determine provinciall affairs: the Emperour confirmed their Canons, and so the Councell was dissolved. But though the Arrians were banished the Churches, yet the schisme and tumults ceased not, whereupon the Godly Emperour aiming at peace, summoned another Councell, charging that men of all Sects and opinions should A Councelmeet there together, hoping that by conference and communication amongst themselves, they would at length be brought to establish one faith and opinion: and when they were all come together, the Emperour sent for Nectarius, Bishop of Constantinople, reasoning with him how he might rid the Christian religion of that discord and dissention, and reduce the Church of Christ to unity and concord; he said also, that the controversies & quarrells that molested the quiet state of the Church, and rent asunder the members of Christ, were to be sifted out, and the punishment to light upon them that were found to be the authors of Schisme, and disturbers of peace: Nectarius leaving him for the present, went to Agelius the Novatian Bishop, who embraced the faith of one substance, and opened to him the mind of the Emperour. He (although he was otherwise a man of rare and singular parts) yet was no body in controversies, but appointed Sisinius, a minister of his Church, to reason with them in his stead: Sisinius being a well experienced man, knew that disputations would not only not reconcile schismes, but rather exasperate mens spirits and inflame contentions, therefore he advised Nectarius after this sort: that instead of disputation, the Emperour should demand of the ringleaders of the Hereticks, whether they esteemed the ancient Fathers that lived before this Schisme sprang up, or whether they condemne them? If they owne them, saith he, out of their writings wee can confirme the truth, and confute these men: If they reject them, all men will crie out upon them: Nectarius liking this advice, reported it presently to the Emperour, who approving of it also, he presently demanded of all the Hereticks, whether they esteemed and allowed the fathers, which governed the Church before them, and would be tried by their testimonies touching the true and right faith? They hearing this, knew not what answer to make, and so were divided amongst themselves: whilst some would assent to the Emperour, others dissented: yea they that were of one opinion, were divided amongst themselves; the Emperour perceiving that they relied not upon the ancient Fathers exposition of the faith, but upon their owne witt, and quirks of Logick, he bad everie sect to lay downe their faith and opinion in writing: which accordingly they did, and brought them to the Emperour; the Emperour received them curteously, and then retired into his closet, fell downe upon his Prayer.knees before God, humbly beseeching him to reveale the truth unto him, and to assist him in finding of it out; then perusing everie ones opinion, and seriously weighing of it in the ballance of the Sanctuary, he condemned and tore in peeces all those Creeds that derogated from the unity that is in the blessed Trinity, allowing & highly commending the other: the Sectarian Bishops, becuse there raigned amongst them mutuall discords & dissention, were set at nought even of their owne people and party. Thus as Theodosius was carefull to build Gods house, the Lord built him an house, and prospered him in all his enterprizes: for about this time, the Alanes and Hunns [people of Scythia] entred againe into Hungary, Gods goodnesse.against whom the Emperour went with his Army; he fought many cruell battailes with them, and in them all had the upper hand, slaying an infinite number of them, and driving the rest out of the Confines of the Empire: insomuch as Athanaricus, King of the Goths, offered himselfe and his people to doe him service, & Theodosius not being willing to overtire his men of war, granted him peace, and so taking Athanaricus with him, he returned victoriously to his City of Constantinople, where Athanaricus beholding the power of the Emperour, the solemnity and greatnesse of his Court; the riches, furniture, and order of his house, and service, he said, that truly the Roman Emperour was God on the earth, and represented the God of heaven, against whom none ought to be so hardy, as to lift up his hand, or heart, except he would presently be condemned to death: not long after Athanaricus fell sick, and dyed, but the Goths that served in his house and Army, having had experience of the goodnesse and bounty of Theodosius, desired to continue in his service, and afterwards carried themselves faithfully and valiantly in all his warrs: But Gratian, and his sonne Valentinian ruling in the West very remisly and negligently, gave occasion to the Brittish Legions to rebell and chuse an excellent Captaine, one Maximus, for their Emperour, who thereupon presently marched into France, where Gratian was, who being ill beloved of his Souldiers, many of them forsook him, and went to Maximus; hereupon Gratian resolved to retire into Italy, but being circumvented by the policy of Maximus, he was slaine in the way, Anno Christi 387. Maximus marching forward with a great Army into Italy, Ʋalentinian the Emperour knowing his owne weaknesse, deserted it, and went to Constantinople to Theodosius, to intreat aide: who compassionating his condition, of his naturall and accustomed valour, resolved to go into Italy, to revenge the death of Gratian, and to restore Valentinian to his Empire, and thereupon, leaving his sonne Arcadius in Constantinople, and taking Valentinian along with him, he raised the greatest and best forces he could, and so marched through Lombardy, where Maximus already was, having left Androgathius generall of his Army to resist Thedosius, who expecting that he would come by Sea into Italy, he embarked all his Army aboord a great number of Ships and barks, purposing to overthrow Theodosius upon the water: the valiant Theodosius, being advertised hereof, Marched by long journeies, finding the passages open, into Gods Goodnesse.the plaines of Lombardy, & besieged the City of Aquileia were Maximus was, and compassing the City round about, they within it, having guilty consciences, and being full of feare, delivered Maximus into Theodosius hands, without staying for any assault, or fight, who caused him as a Traitor to his Prince, to be put to death: when Androgathius, his Generall, being vponupon the Sea with a very mighty navie, heard of it, he was so overcome with sorrow and despaire, that he cast himselfe overboord, and drowned himselfe, and thereupon his Army yielded themselves to Theodosius, and so without either slaughter or bloodshed, God gave unto his holy servant Theodosius, a very great victory: and from France, Spaine, Germany, and Brittaine there came Ambassadours to him, yielding him their obedience with great humility and devotion. Thence he marched with Ʋalentinian to Rome, where they received him with a solemne Triumph; He continued there certaine daies, reformed many abuses, & disorders, inflicted punishments, and did Iustice upon sundry wicked Justice.and dissolute persons, and as an holy and faithfull Christian, he reformed the abuses of the Church also: and setting all things in good order, he returned to Constantinople, leaving with Ʋalentinian an Army and power sufficient to defend his Empire. Theodosius, through Gods mercy, and goodnesse, was so feared, and honoured by all nations, that the King of Persia, notwithstanding his former victories, in great humility sent his Ambassadours to Constantinople, intreaing a perpetuall League, and peace with him, and he seeing with how great submission that potent King sued for peace, granted it.
Not long after, Valentinian the Emperour went into France, and there living in prosperity, and void of care, one Argobastes, a Captaine of his, conspired with Eugenius to kill him, and for that end suborned some of his Eunuches to strangle him in his bed, which they did, publishing abroad, that he had hanged himselfe: whereupon Argobastes nominated and made Eugenius Emperour: Theodosius being advertised of this fact, was very sorry, and much troubled, considering how dangerous a warre lay before him, yet thinking it a great dishonour to suffer such an action to goe unpunished, he mustered up his Army, and leaving his son Arcadius in Constantinople, with all possible speed he marched against them; but as a good Fasting & Prayer.and holy Christian, he first betooke himselfe to fasting and prayer, seeking unto God, the giuer of Victory, for successe in his interprise, requesting the prayers of other holy men also, whereof one of them sent him word, that he should have the victory, but should die in Italy, and never returne againe to Constantinople. When Theodosius with his Army came to the confines of Italy, the Tyrants had such great forces, and had taken such good order for all matters, that all the passages of the Alps were stopped, and at the foot thereof they attended his coming with all their forces: yet Theodosius having overcome those passages, and being entred into Lombardy, found himselfe much distressed, the enemies being more in number, and having as valiant and experienced souldiers as he; who compassed him about, & kept all victualls from being brought to his Camp: but the valiant Emperour using the best meanes he could, as a faithfull Christian, expected and hoped for his best reliefe from God, to whom with teares he made continuall supplications: and truly his danger Prayer Powerfull.was so great, that had not God miraculously fought for him, he had there beene lost: the night before the battaile he spent wholly in prayer, neither eating nor sleeping, & the next day, seeing himselfe charged on everie side, he set his men in very good order to fight, with great courage and resolution attending the coming of his enemies, and iust as the battaile was ready to begin, behold the goodnesse of God: Arbicius a Captaine of the enemies cam over to his side with all under his Charge. The Battaile beginning, where Romans were against Romans, they fought at even hand, most cruelly wounding, and killing one another. But Theodosius his Auxiliaries were worsted, and at the first charge ten thousand Goths, which were in his pay, were slaine, which when he saw, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and with a true faith and stedfast hope, shedding many teares, prayed unto the Lord, that he might not be overthrowne in so just a cause. At that instant a Captaine of his, with a great troope of Souldiers came to the rescue of certaine Squadrons, which in all shew were overthrowne, and they charged the enemy with such courage and resolution, that they which were in a manner vanquished, recovered strength and heart againe: But the enemies were so many, that it seemed impossible for them to defend themselves, at which A miracle of Mercy.instant it pleased God to send them succour from heaven, for suddenly there arose so violent a wind and tempest, as the like had never been seene by any man then living, which without annoyance to the Emperours Army, did beate into the enemies faces with such force, that it bereaved them of their sight, so that they were not able to march forwards, yea the wind was so strong, that all the Arrowes, stones, darts, and lances, which they threw and shot, were borne back againe, wounding those that threw them: the most Christian Emperour taking notice of this miraculous providence of God, rendered thankes Thankesgiving.unto him for the same, encouraging, and animating his souldiers, so as in a short space they obtained a compleate victory: Eugenius himselfe was taken fighting, and brought to Theodosius, who commanded him to be slaine for his treason, and Argobastes flying, and finding no certaine place of refuge, with his owne sword cut his owne throat: Theodosius had the spoyle of his enemies Campe: presently after, all the Princes of the Empire sent their Embassadours to Theodosius, to congratulate his victory, and many barbarous nations did the like, so that he remained the absolute Lord both of the East, and West: and being freed from warres, he came to Millaine, where Saint Ambrose was the Bishop, in which place he remained the rest of his time, applying himselfe to civill Governement, whereof in the time of warre he neglected not to take great care. Being thus in Millaine, meditating upon his mortality by reason of his diseases, he resolved to settle his estate, and sending to Constantinople for his sonne Honorius, by the generall approbation of all, he made him Emperour of the West: and his elder sonne Arcadius of the East, after which he lived in great prosperity three yeares in Millaine, in the company of that holy man Ambrose, during which time this fell out. In Thessalonica [a richand populous City of Macedonia] there happened a great tumult amongst the people against the magistrates and governours under the Emperour, and their fury grew so great, that they slew them, which when Theodosius understood, he was so incensed against them, that he made his souldiers put to death seven thousand of the common people, making noe difference betweene the guilty and innocent: Ambrose hearing of it, when the Emperour came to Church, as his manner was, Ambrose (that his repentance Zeale.might be as publick as his offence) set himselfe in the Church doore, and told the Emperour, that he should not enter there, making a learned Oration to him, wherein he opened his fault, and then excommunicated him: all which the Emperour heard with great patience, and returning to his palace he continued there eight months before he was absolved, at the end whereof he said to one about him, truly I will goe and see what penance my Pastor will lay upon me for my offence, and so he went to the Church doore where Ambrose was, intreating him to absolue him. But what repentance hast thou shewed (said the Bishop) for so hainous an offence? and with what salue hast thou healed so mortall a wound? Thou (said the Emperour) art to instruct, and shew me Humility.what I am to doe, and thou shalt see that I will accomplish what thou shalt prescribe: the Bishop seeing the Emperours mildnesse, thinking it penance sufficient that he had bin so long excommunicated, with mild and curteous speeches, said unto him: Thy penance, Theodosius, shall be this, that seeing in thy hasty fury thou commitedst such an horrid murther, thou shalt presently establish a Law, that no man whom thou shalt adjudge to die shall be executed within thirtie dayes after thou hast pronounced the sentence, at the end of which time thou shalt either ratifie or disanull thy sentence, as thou seest cause: the Emperour immediately caused this Law to be written, and proclaimed, which he ever after observed, and whereof much good ensued: and so being absolved, he came into the Church, prayed, and received the Sacrament, and ever after loved Ambrose very deerly, and used his counsell in many matters, and for his companies sake, he continued in Millaine the remainder of his life.
In the good Emperours absence, the Arians at Constantinople Hereticks insolency.began to waxe bold, raised tumults, & proceeded to that insolency, that they set the house of Nectarius [Bishop of Constantinople] on fire: in other Cities also, where they were thrust out of their Churches by the authority of the Emperour, they kept conventicles in the suburbs, and thereby much propagated their damnable opinions: About this time the Emperour commanded that all the Idoll groues and Temples in Alexandria should be demolished, and that Theophilus the Bishop thereof should see it done, which he with much zeale prosecuted, which Zeale.so inraged the heathen, that they made head together, ran upon the Christians, and sought to destroy them everie kinde of way: the Christians withstood them, and so they fought till both sides were weary, many were slaine, and more wounded: But the heathens, when that the heate was over, were wonderfully affraid of the Emperours displeasure, and therefore forsooke the City, and hid themselves in severall places: Afterwards the Governour and Captaine of the Host assisted Theophilus in the overthrow of those Temples: all the Images by the Emperours order were given to the reliefe of the poore.
Whilst Theodosius was at Rome, after he had overcome Justice.Maximus, he reformed two most abominable wickednesses: the first was this; In Rome was an huge house of ancient building, where all the bread that served the City was baked, and most of the roomes were under grownd: round about it were Taverns and Victualing houses full of Harlots, so that many that resorted thither, either to satisfie their hunger, or lust, were by these whores spoyled of all they had, and usually so made away that their friends could never heare of them more: for by privie conveiances, they were throwne into these back-houses, and there kept to grinding, and drudgery all their life after. It fell out that one of the Emperours Souldiers was thus throwne into this hole, who when, they would not suffer him to depart, drew his Dagger, and slew some that stopped his passage, so that the rest being afraid, let the Souldier goe: and the Emperour being informed by him, sent for the Millers and Bakers, punished the Masters with extreame torments, overthrew those blind houses, and so rid the princely City of that shamefull doing. The other abuse which he reformed was this: If a woman were taken in Adultery, they shut her up in a narrow Stewes, and compelled her beastly, and without all shame to play the harlot, ringing a bell whilst the deed was doing, that all the neighbours might be made privie to it, which was so farre from removing the sin, that it encreased it rather: The good Emperour being informed hereof, caused the Stewes to bee pulled downe, and Adultery punished.wholely suppressed: and made other Lawes for the punishment of Adultery.
Theodosius being aged, & infirme, at last fell extreme sick, and therefore he disposed of the Empire to his two sonnes; and because they were young, and not of fit yeares for such a burthen, he left, as tutors and governours to them, two very sufficient men both for war & peace: after he had set all things in order, his disease so increased, that being overcome by it, he recommended his soule to God, and so departed out of this present life Anno Christi 397. of his age fifty, or as others sixty, and of his Empire seventeene. In all his His Charecter.warres he was very valiant and politick▪ of an excellent wit and judgement in civill governement, a lover of Justice and equity, very mercifull, and of a most noble inclination, yet somewhat hasty & cholericke, but presently pacified, and easily intreated: To moderate his passion, besides Ambrose his Law in matters of death, he used (knowing his owne hasty disposition) not to determine of any thing till he had repeated over the letters of the Greeke Alphabet, for in that space his wrath would be tempered: he was exceeding liberall, temperate, and chast: he greatly honored learned, and wise men: hee was well spoken, and cheerefull in his deportment. His wife Flacilla was an excellent, and most religious woman: He used to say, That he accounted it a greater honour, that he Piety.was a member of the Church, then that he was the head of the Empire.
He wrote out the whole New Testament with his owne hand, accounting it a great Jewell, and reading a part of it every day. Hee commanded that they which reviled, and spake evill of him should not bee punished: Quoniam si ex levitate processerit, contemnendum Meekenes.est: si ex insania, miseratione dignum: si ab injuria, remittendum est: Because if it proceeded of levity, it is not to be regarded: if of madnesse, it is to be pittied: if of an injury received, it is to be pardoned in them.
In this Emperors reigne there was much hurt done by earthquakes in sundry places: In the Imperiall City of Constantinople there were thrown downe at one time fifty seven Towers of the City wall, which were newly built a little before: It endured by fitts sixe moneths together, so that many faire and goodly Churches and Fortresses were demolished, and the Inhabitants were faigne to forsake their houses, and lie in the fields: It raged by Sea also, so that many ships, and whole Islands were swallowed up by it. After which, insued Famine and pestiferous aers, by which many thousands of people, and beasts perished: and in Chersonesus, whole Parishes sunk into the ground: Also in the last yeare of his raigne in Epyrus there was a Dragon seene of that vast bignesse, that when he was dead eight yoaks of Oxen could hardly draw him. The Inhabitants of Antiochia overthrowing the brasen portraiture of his beloved wife Placilla, Theodosius was so incensed against them for it, that he deprived their Towne of the dignity of a Metropolitan City, conferring it upon their neighbour towne of Laodicea: he threatned also to burne it downe, but by the perswasions of Flavianus Bishop of Antiochia, the good Emperour moved with pitty, pardoned their fault.
At one time he was very favourable to the Arrians, whom he permitted to keepe Conventicles in his principall Cities, which Amphilochius Bishop of Iconium taking notice of, he came before the Emperour, and did his reverence unto him, but not to his sonne Arcadius, though he was already made Augustus, whereat Theodosius being offended, Amphilochius presently answered, that the God of heaven would also be offended with them, who tolerated the blasphemers of his only begotten sonne Iesus Christ: the Godly Emperour being hereby brought to a sight of his great sinne, presently made a Law prohibiting the Conventicles of the Arrians in all his Cities.
Concerning that miraculous tempest that God sent for the destruction of his enemies, Claudian the poet writes these verses.
O nimium dilecte Deo! cui fundit ab Antris
Aeolus armatas hyemes, cui militat Aether,
Et conjurati veniunt ad classica venti.
Collected out of Socrates Scholasticus: the Imperiall History: Speeds Chronicle, and the Booke of Martyrs.