1583 Edition | Book 1 | Page 125 
CloseOne of six "Scriptores Historiae Augustae"
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 139, 1576, p. 103, 1583, p. 102.
Close(354 - 430) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Bishop of Hippo (396 - 430); theologian, doctor of the church
Augustine was called 'papas' or 'father' by the African bishops. 1570, p. 11; 1576, p. 8; 1583, p. 8.
He was present at the Synod of Milevum in 416. 1570, p. 14; 1576, p. 1035; 1583, p. 1062.
He attended the Council of Carthage in 419. 1570, p. 1209; 1576, p. 11; 1583, p. 11.
Augustine praised Cyprian of Carthage. 1570, p. 99; 1576, p. 69; 1583, p. 69.
In their examination for heresy, Thomas Arthur and Thomas Bilney said that Augustine criticised the large number of laws in the church in his time. 1563, p. 464; 1570, p. 1137; 1576, p. 974; 1583, p. 1000.
Close(c. 320 - c. 390); author of a history of Rome from Augustus to Julian
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 105, 122, 139; 1576, pp. 75, 88, 103; 1583, pp. 74, 87, 102.
Close(203x204 - 222) [M. L. Meckler www.roman-emperors.org]
High priest at Emesa
Roman emperor (218 - 222); murdered with his mother
Heliogabalus lived a life of gluttony, debauchery and excess. He was killed by his soldiers, and his body was drawn through the streets and thrown into the Tiber. 1570, p. 83; 1576, p. 57; 1583, p. 57.
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 39; 1576, p. 31; 1583, p. 31.
Close(263 - 339) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Christian scholar, presbyter at the church at Caesarea; wrote History of the Church
Eusebius said that he himself had known the martyrs in Palestine who died during Diocletian's persecution. 1570, p. 110; 1576, p. 78; 1583, p. 77.
He personally witnessed the persecutions in the Thebiade. 1570, p. 113; 1576, p. 80; 1583, p. 80.
He was present at the martyrdom of Philoromus at Alexandria. 1570, p. 128; 1576, p. 93; 1583, p. 92.
Eusebius received a letter from Constantine, instructing him to build and repair churches in Caesarea. 1570, p. 141; 1576, p. 104; 1583, p. 103.
Foxe uses Eusebius extensively as a source throughout Book 1.
Close(1425 - 1497) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Italian humanist; founded an academy with Platina and Sabellico; prefect of the library of San Marco, Venice
Imprisoned with Platina and others in 1463, tortured. The academy resumed in 1471; Lætus wrote a compendium of Roman history
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 114; 1576, p. 82; 1583, p. 81.
very eloquent, a good philosopher, & in disputation sharp and ingenious. MarginaliaThe common saying of Constantinus.He was accustomed to say, that an Emperour ought to refuse no labor, for the vtilitie of the common weale: yea, & that to aduenture the mangling of hys body for the remedy thereof, but if other waies it maye bee holpen to cherish the same. This Aurelius, Victor, Pomponius, Letus, & Ignatius write of him. And Ælius Lampridus saith writing vppon the life of Heliogabalus, that Constantinus was woont to saye, that an Empire was giuen by the determinate purpose of God, that he to whom it was giuen should so imploy his diligēce, as he might be thought worthy of the same at the hands of the gyuer. Which same saiing also Augustine noteth in his 3. booke against Cresconius. epist. 49. and 50.MarginaliaAugust. contra. Crescon epist. 49. 50.
[Back to Top]He first entred into the Empire, by the mercifulnes of God minding after long waues of dolefull persecution to restore vnto his church peace and tranquilitie, an. 311. as Eusebius accompteth in his Chronicle.MarginaliaThe raygne of Constantinus. His raigne cōtinued, as Eutropius affirmeth, 30. yeares, Letus saith 32. yeares lacking, 2. monethes. Great peace and tranquilitie enioied the Churche vnder the raigne of this good Emperour, which tooke great paine and trauell for the preseruation thereof. MarginaliaThe effect of some of hys constitutions.First, yea and that before he had subdued Licinius, he set forth many edictes for the restitution of the goods of the church, for the reuoking of the Christians out of exile, for taking away the dissension of the Doctours out of the Church, for the setting of them free from publike charges, and such like, euen as the copies of his constitutions here vnder declare, which Eusebius in his 10. booke, aud 5. chapter, repeateth in this wise.
[Back to Top]VIctor Constantinus Maximus, Augustus, to our louing subiectes inhabiting throughout the east parts, sendeth greting. The thing it selfe, which in the sure and most firme law of nature is conteyned, doth giue vnto all men (euen as God hath ordeyned the same) sufficient perseueraunce and vnderstanding, both of such things as man ought to foresee, as also what things presently he ought to meditate.MarginaliaThe law of nature made perfect, compared with the knowledge of God. Neither is there any thing therein to be doubted, of such as haue their mindes directed to the scope or marke of perfect vnderstanding: so that the perfect comprehending of sound reason, and the perseuerance thereof, be compared with the knowledge of God, being the true and perfect vertue. MarginaliaLithernes the nurse of ignoraunce, and ignoraunce the enemy to wisedome. Tyranny depriueth Emperours.Wherefore let no wise man be troubled, although he see diuers men of diuers dispositions. For wisdome which springeth of vertue cannot abide, or acquaint her selfe with fonde ideotes, vnles, that (on the other side) the malice of peruerse lithernes prolong her daies, and cause the same Ideocie to suruiue. Wherfore assuredly the crowne and price of vertue lieth open vnto all men, & the moste mightie God ordereth the iudgement of the same. I vndoubted as manyfestly as possible is, will endeuour my selfe to testifie and confesse vnto you al, the hope which is in me. I think verily that the Emperours which before this time haue latelye bene, euen for their tiranny had the Empire taken from them: and my father onelye exercising and vsing al meekenes and lenity in his affaires, calling vpon God the father, with great deuotion & humility hath beene exalted to the same. And all the rest, as men wanting their wits, and in comparison as sauage beastes, rather did giue themselues to like cruelty, then vnto any lenitie & gentlenes towards their subiects: in which tyranny euery one for his time being nooseled, vtterly subuerted the true and vnfallible doctrine. MarginaliaBloudy tyrantes make ciuile warres.And so great malice was their kindled in their brestes, that when all things were in peaceable tranquilitie, they made and raysed most cruell and bloudy intestine or ciuill warres. MarginaliaApollo gaue answere out of a caue in the ground, that he was disquyeted by the Christians.It is credibly informed vs, that in those daies, Apollo gaue aunsweres but not by any mans mouth, but out of a certaine caue & darke place (saying) that he was much disquieted by those that were the iust men and liuers vpon the earth, so that he could or would not for them, declare a truth of such things as others demaunded: & hereby it came to passe that such false deuinations were geuen from the golden tables in Apollos temple. And this thing did his propheticall priest complayne of, when he tooke vp againe the heare of his head, that other had cōtemptuously cast down, & that the neglecting of his diuination was the cause of so many euils, amongst men. But let vs see what was the ende hereof: we now boldly & without all feare inuocate & worship the omnipotent God. when I was a childe I heard, that he which then was chiefe Emperour of Rome, vnhappy, yea, most vnhappy man being seduced, and brought into errour, by his souldiers, curiously inquired who were those iust men vpō the earth that Apollo ment: and one of his priests which was nere about him, made answere that they were the christiās. This answere hereupon vnto him beyng as delectable, as hony vnto the mouth, drew the sword giuenvnto him to be a reuenger vpon euill doers and malefactours against the professors of the irreprehensible sanctimony and relygion. MarginaliaThe sword geuen for to be auenged vpon malefactors.And straight way he gaue forth a commission (to bloudy homicides as I may well cal them) & gaue commaundement to all the Iudges, that they should endeuour themselues with all the cunning they had to the deuising of more greeuouser, & sharper punishments against the poore Christians. Then, then I say, a man myght haue seene, how greatly the honest professors of that religion, were molested with cruelty, and daily suffered no smal iniuries and contumelies, and that also they suffered and sustained the same with such tēperancy as though they had had no iniuries done vnto them at all.MarginaliaA great cōmendation of the christians. Which temperancie and patience of theirs was the cause why the furious citizens were the more madder & raging against them. What fires, what tortures, what kinde of torments were there, but they without respecte either of age, or sexe were enforced to feele?
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe earth bewayled the martyrs deathes.Then did the earth without doubt, herselfe bewayle her children and the round worlde which conteineth all things, beyng sprinkled and imbrued with their bloud made dolefull lamentation for them, and the daye it selfe prouoked for to mourne, was made amased for them. But what is this to purpose. Now the very barbarous nations reioyce for their sakes which receaued and harboured them, when they were afraid and fled from vs: keping them as it were in most louing & amiable captiuity. And they saued not onely their liues, but also were a defence for their religion. And now also the Romaine nation remembreth and hath before there eies this blame and spotte, which the Christians that were of that time, worthely gaue vnto them when they by them were banished (as vnfitte members of their common wealth) amongst the barbarous people. What needeth to make further rehearsall of the mourning lamentation, which the heathen people themselues throughout all the world, made for the pittifull murther and slaughter of them? After this it came to passe that they which were authors of all these mischiefes died also, and were cōmitted for there reward to the most filthy & horrible dungeon of hel.MarginaliaThe authors of all mischiefe punished. They being so intangled with intestine and ciuile warres, left aliue neyther name nor kinsmen of their owne: which thing vndoubtedly had not chaūsed vnles the wicked deuinatiōs of Apollos oracles had deceiued & bewitched thē.MarginaliaApollos lying oracles the cause of so many martirs deathes. To thee therfore now I pray, oh most mightie God, that thou wilt vouchsafe to be mercifull, and pardon all the east parts and inhabitaunts of the same, being oppressed with present calamitie: and that by mee thy seruaunt thou wilt of thy goodnes helpe and relieue the same. And these things rashly craue I not at thy hands: oh Lord, most mighty and holiest God of all.MarginaliaConstant. prayer. For I being perswaded by the onely oracles haue both begone and also finished wholesome and profitable things, and further by the bearing and shewing of thine ensigne, haue ouercome a mighty and strong host, and when any necessitie of the common weale (to my charge committed) requireth thereunto, (following those signes & tokens of thy vertues) I bouldly go forth and fight against mine enimies: and for this cause haue I sacrificed my soule vnto thee, purified and clensed both with thy loue and feare. Yea truely, thy name doe I sincerely loue, and thy power doe I reuerence, which by many tokens and wonders hast shewed and confirmed thereby my beleefe & faith.MarginaliaConstant. Fayth confirmed by the myracles of the crosse. Therefore will I doe my endeuour, and bende my selfe thereunto, that I may redifie thy most holy house, which those wicked & vngodly Emperours haue with so great ruine laid wast, thy people do I desire to bring & stablish, in firme peace & trāquilitie, & that for the publike vtilitie of all the inhabitants of the earth. Those which yet erre & are out of the way, enioy the benefite of peace and quietnes, with, and amongst the number of the faithful sort: for I trust the restitution of the like societie, and participation may be a meanes to bring them also that erre into the perfecte way of verity. Let no man therfore be greeuous one vnto another but what euery man thinketh best that let him doe.MarginaliaThe clemēcy of a good Emperour. For such as are wise ought throughly to be perswaded, that the onely meane to liue holily and as they should doe, whome the spirite of God moueth, to take their delight and recreation in reading his holye will.MarginaliaA good iudgement. And if others wilfully will go out of the way, cleauing to the Synagogues of false doctrine, they maye at their owne perill: as for vs we haue the most worthy house or congregation of Gods veritie, which he according to his owne goodnes & nature hath giuen vs. And this also we wish vnto thē, that with like participation & common consente, they may fele wyth vs the same delectation of mind. MarginaliaOne religion from the beginning of the world.For this our religiō is neither new nor newly inuented, but is as old as wee beleeue the creation of the worlde to be: and which God hath commaunded to be celebrated with such worship as both seemed and pleased him. But all liuing men are lyers, and are deceiued with diuers and sundrye illusions. Thou O God for Christ thy sonnes sake, suffer not this wickednes againe to take roote: thou hast set vp a cleare burning light, that thereby as manye as thou hast chosen maye come vnto thee. These thy myracles approoue the same.MarginaliaThe prayer of Constantine was fulfilled. Ech thing in their creation preach the very and true God. It is thy power that kepeth vs in innocencye and fydelitye. The Sunne and the Moone runne their appointed course: neyther yet in ranging wise, wander the starres to what place of the worlde they list themselues.
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