History of the First Ten Persecutions, History 3 · Chapter 1

History of the First Ten Persecutions · History 3 · Chapter 1

Chap. 1.

Seuerus.

AFter PERTINAX and IVLIAN SEVERVS gouerned The fist persecution, ANN. Ch. 205.17, yeeres, 8. months, EVSEBIVS reckoneth onelyonly 12. yeeres, lib. 6. cap. 12. He stirred vp the fift persecution against the Christians. The crimes objected against the Christians beside those that were objected in the former persecution were these: Rebellion against the Emperour, sacriledge, murthering of infants, worshipping of the sunne, and worshipping the heade of an Asse: which last calumnie was forged against them by the malice of the Jewes. This persecution raged most seuerely in the townes of Alexandria and Carthage, like as the former persecution had done in Lions and Vienne in France, Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 1. LEONIDES the Leonides the father of Origen.father of ORIGEN was beheaded his sonne, being but yong in yeeres, exhorted his father to perseuere in the faith of Christ constantly vntounto the death. POTAMIEA a yong beautiful virgin in Alexandria was by the judge condemned to death, and deliuered to a Captaine called BASILIDES, who stayed the insolencie of the people that followed her to the place of execution with outrage of slanderous and rayling worde crying out against her: for this cause shee prayed to God for the conuersion of BASILIDES to the true faith, and was heard of God, in so much, that he was not onelyonly conuerted to the faith of Christ, but also sealed it vp with his blood and had the honour of martyrdome, Euseb. lib. 6. cap 5. ALEXANDER who was fellow-labourer with NARCISSVS Alexander fellow laboure… with Na… cislus,in Ierusalem, escaped many dangers, yet was he martyred in the dayes of DECIVS the 7. great persecuter, Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 39. Of this Emperour the Senat of Rome said, Aut non nasci, aut non mori debuisse, that is, Either hee should neuer hauehave beene borne or els should neuer hauehave tasted of death. So it pleased the Lorde by his wise dispensation to suffer the dayes of TRAIAN, ANTONINVS Philosophus, & SEVERVS, Emperours renoumed in the world to be more cruell against his owne people then the dayes of NERO, DOMITIAN, CALIGVLA or COMMODVS, to the ende the poore Church might learne to be content to be spoyled of all outward comfort, and to leane vponupon the staffe of the consolations of God alanerly. Many that were brought Rhais a mar tyre hrunt before she was baptized.vp in the schooles of ORIGEN suffered martyrdome, such as PLVTARCHVS, SERENVS, HERACLIDES, HERON, and another hauing the name of SERENVS also, Euseb. lib, 6. cap. 4. Among women RHAIS was burned with fire for Christs sake before she was baptized with water in Christs Name, Euseb. ibid. Innumerable moe martyrs were slaine for the faith of Christ, whose names in particular no ecclesiasticall writer euer was able to comprehend, therfore it shall suffice to heare the names of a few. The rest whose names are not expressed, enjoy the crownes of incorruptible glory, as wel as those doe whose names are in all mens mouths. It is the comfort of our hearts to remember that the Apostles and Euangelists sealed vp with their blood the doctrine which they taught, and committed to writ, and no other doctrine, and the holy martyres immediatly after the Apostles dayes sealed vp with the glorious testimonie of their blood that same faith, which we now professe, & which they receiued frō the hands of the Apostles, but they were not so prodigall of their liues to giuegive their blood for the doctrine of worshipping of images, inuocation of Saints, plurality of mediators, of intercession, the sacrifice of the Masse both propitiatory and vnbloody, expresly against the wordes of the Apostle, Heb. 9. ver. 22. and such other heades of doctrine vnknown to antiquitie. The Romaine Church in our daies is a persecuting and not a persecuted Church, more fruitfull in murthers then martyrdomes, glorying of antiquitie, and follow ing the forgerie of new inuented religion. This Emperour SEVERVS was slaine at Yo…ke by the Northerne men & Scots.

Bassianus & Geta.

SEVERVS who was slaine at Yorke left behind him two sonnes, BASSIANVS and GETA. BASSIANVS slewe his brother, & reigned himselfe alone 6. yeres, so that the whole time of his gouernment both with his brother and alone was 7. yeeres, 6. months, Euseb. lib: 6. cap, 21. He put to death also PAPINIANVS a worthie lawyer, because he would not pleade his cause anent the slaughter of his brother before the people, but saide that sinne might be more easily committed then it could be defended. Bucolc. Hee tooke to wife his own mother in law IVLIA, a woman more beautifull then chaste. In all his time (as he confessed with his owne mouth) hee neuer learned to doe good, and was slaine by MACRINVS.

Macrinus with his son Diadumenus.

MACRINVS and his sonne reigned one yeere alanerly. Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 21.

Antoninus Heliogabalus.

ANTONINVS HELIOGABALVS reigned after MACRINVS 4. yeeres, Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 21. He was a prodigious belly-god, a libidinous beast, an enemie to all honestie and good order, Func. Chron. So many villanous things are written of him, that scarcely if the Reader can giuegive credite to the historie, that euer such a monster was fashioned in the belly of a woman. At his remouing in his progresse oftimes followed him 600. chariots laden onelyonly with baudes and common harlots. His gluttonie, filthinesse, & excessiue riotousnes are in al mens mouthes. Hee was slaine of the souldiers, drawen through the citie, and cast into Tiber.

Alexander Seuerus.

ALEXANDER SEVERVS the adopted sonne of HELIOGABALVS reigned 13. yeeres, Euseb lib. 6. cap. 28. Chron. Func. He delited to hauehave about him wise and learned counsellers, such as FABIVS, SABINVS DOMITIVS, VLPIANVS, &c. This renowmed Lawyer VLPIANVS was not a friend to Christians but by collecting together a number of lawes made against Christians in times Vlpianus an enemie to Christians.bypast, he animated the harts of judges against them. And this is a piece of the rebuke of Christ, that Christians hauehave borne continually to be hated of the wise men of the world. hist. Magdeburg. Cent. 3. Hereof it came to passe that in this Emperours time, albeit hee was not so bloodie as many others had bene before him (and therefore his Empire was called foreign that is, vnbloodie) yet not a few suffered martyredome euen in the dayes of ALEXANDER, such as AGAPETVS a young man of 15. yeere old at Praeneste a towne of Italie, Hee was assaied with many torments, and finally with the sword he was beheaded. The judge who gaue out a sentence of death against him, fell out of his judiciall seat and suddenly died. The martyredome of CECILIA, if by her trauailes VALERIAN her espoused husband, and TIBVRTIVS his brother, & 400. moe had bene conuerted to Christ & secretly baptized by VRBANVS B. of Rome immediatly before her death, I maruel that no mention should be made by EVSEBIVS of such a rare & miraculous worke. Senatours and noble men at Rome, such as PAMMACHIVS, SIMPLICIVS, and QVIRITIVS, with their wiues and children died for the faith of Christ with many others, Hist. Mag. Cent. 3. The fauour that this Emperour shewed to Christians against whom the very sloobering cookes did contend challenging vntounto themselues the right of a place whereinto Christians were accustomed to conueene for exercise of diuine seruice, this fauour, I say, seemeth to hauehave proceeded from the coun sell of MAMMEA his Christian mother, rather then from the counseli of VLPIANVS that renowmed lawyer an hatefull aduersarie to Christians. But MAMMEA his mother hearing the report of the learning of ORIGEN sent for him and Mammea the Emperors mother is instructed by Origen in the faith.by him was instructed in the groundes of Christian faith. The learned doctour who wrote the booke of the martyrs, very judiciously obserueth the iniquitie of this time, whereinto no Christian Churches were erected, when as yet (notwithstanding of the fauour of the Emperour at some times) no publicke house could quietly be obtained for the Christians: so that by reason hereof may appeare the decretall epistle of Pope HYGINVS concerning the dedication of Churches is forged & fained, because the reigne of ALEXANDER is a long time posterior to the dayes of HYGINVS (who liued vnderunder the reigne of ANTONINVS PIVS) and in the reigne of ALEXANDER as yet there was great difficultie to obteine a place whereinto Christians might assemble together. The just deserued punishment of TVRINVS, whome the Emperour caused to bee fastened to a stake in the open Turinus killed with smoke.market place, and there to be killed with smoke, the Herald standing by and crying to the people, Smoke he sold and with smoke he is punished, This punishment I say declareth that this Emperour counted flatterers worthy of great punishment. ALEXANDER and his mother MAMMEA were both slaine by his owne souldiers, Bucolc: Index Chron.

Maximinus.

AFter ALEXANDER SEVERVS MAXIMINVS was Emperour and reigned 3. yeeres, Euseb lib 6 cap. 28. A man of base parentage, of an huge stature, promoted to honours by ALEXANDER, who nounished a serpent in his owne bosome (as the prouerbe speaketh) when he aduanced MAXIMINVS an ingrate foster to great dignities and honours. For by his meanes the armie killed ALEXANDER, and his mother MAMMEA, and saluted him and his sonne Emperours without aduise of the Romaine Senat: a man hated of all good men, beloued of euill men, more grieuous to the citizens of Rome then to their enemies, Bucolc. Index Chron. who for hatred of the house of ALEXANDER (as EVSEBIVS recordeth) raised vp the sixt persecution against Christians, specially against the teachers and leaders of the Church, thinking the sooner to vanquish the rest if the Captaines and guiders of them were made out of the way, Euseb. eccl. hist. lib 6. cap. 28.

ORIGEN at this time wrote a booke de martyrio, and dedicated it to AMBROSIVS & PROTECTETVS a preaching elder of the Church of Casarea: because these two vnderunder this persecution Origen wrote a booke de martyrio.had susteined great afflictions, and constantly perseuered in the true faith, Eusebilib 6. cap. 28. No persecution was more violent, no persecution endured shorter time. In no persecution are the names of suffering martyrs so obscured and couered with silence possibly because the booke of Origen de martyrio through injurie of time is not to be found, therefore some learned men do referre the martyrdome of such as wee hauehave spoken of in the dayes of ALEXANDER to this time, or to the persecution of DECIVS. I will not dispute of such doubtsome things. Three other things that are more necessarie to the edification of the Church I will touch. First the malice of the deuill, who hateth the welfare of the sheepfolde of Christ, and laboureth The malice of Satan against true 'Pastors.either to spoyle it of true Pastours, or to send in among the poore sheepe hyrelings, and men not regarding the well of the flocke, but their owne gaine: or clse, if they hauehave true pastours, to mooue the flocke to be disobedient to faithfull and vigilant Pastors. The flocke that can eschew all these three snares of the deuill, and all these three wofull calamities so oft seasing vponupon the poore sheepesolde, they are in good estate. Reade CHRYSOSTOME writing vponupon the 13. chap Heb. ver. 17. Another thing is worthie to be marked, that in three great persecutions, in the fift, sixt and seuenth, ORIGEN a man more renowmed in his lifetime then after his death, God vouchsafed vponupon him two great honours, but not the third, whereof he was most of all desirous. He encouraged his father LEONIDES, and his disciples, PLVTARCHVS, two SERENI, HERON & HERACLIDES patiently to fuffer martyrdome in the dayes of SEVERVS. Next he wrote a booke de martyrio in the daies of MAXIMINVS the sixt persecuter, whereby doubtlesse many were incouraged patienly Origen got not the honor of martyrdome.to suffer euill for Christs sake. What remaineth now but the third & principal honour of martyrdom it selfe, whereunto he had a bent desire in the daies of DECIVS the 7 perseter, but then he fainted, as shall be declared hereafter Godwilling? When we call to minde this weaknes of ORIGEN, let all the cogitations of our heartes stoupe, and thinke that wee are not meete for great things, but if the Lorde call vsus to suffer great things for his Names sake, the Lorde perfite his strength in our infirmitie and weakenesse. Thirdly let vsus marke the great difference that is betweene the volume of the booke of holy canonicke & sacred Scripture, & all other bookes whatsoeuer. In Scripture the ouerpassing of maters of great importance and moment is not for ignorance, misknowledge or doubting of those things that are ouerslidden, but for mysterie and representation of things Difference betwixt holy scripture and other bookes.more necessarie to be knowne, as namely when MOSES a most accurat writer of the life, death & genealogies of holy Patriarches, yet hee ouerpasseth the description of the genealogie, death & beginning of the life MELCHISEDECK this was done of purpose to bring in MELCHISEDECK: as a type and figure of the true king of peace Christ Icsus, as the Apostle declareth, Heb. 7. but among ecclesiasticall writers I finde a preterition of the names of these worthy Pastours who were martyred for the cause of Christ in the sixt persecution, and this ouerpassing with silence so weightie a matter, is a secret confession of ignorance in this part of the historie, together with a doubting, whether VRBANVS the first, VALERIANVS, TIBVRTIVS, CECILIA, and MARTINA suffered vnderunder ALEXANDER, or vnderunder MAXIMINVS, or vnderunder DECIVS. Yea PLATINA writeth it was the opinion of some men that VRBANVS 1. was martyred in the persecution of DIOCLETIAN. I hauehave insisted at greater length in this purpose to the end that eueryevery man may giuegive vntounto sacred scripture that reuerence that is due vntounto it, but other writings let vsus reade them with judgement, for assuredly there is palpable weakenes into them. In ende this wicked persecuter MAXIMINVS and his sonne were slaine by his owne souldiers at the siege of Aquileia, Func. Chron.

Gordianus.

THe tyrannie of MAXIMINVS enforced both the senate of Rome and likewife their oppressed confederates in Af…icke to aduise by what meanes the distressed estate of the Commonwell might be supported. And first GORDIANVS a man of noble birth in Rome, and at that time PROCONSVL in Africke, with his sonne bearing the name of GORDIANVS with his father, these two were declared to bee Emperours to resist the tyrannie of MAXIMINVS, but they were both cut off by CAPELLIANVS Captaine of the Mauritanians. Within a short time the senate of Rome chused MAXIMVS PVPIENVS and BALBINVS to be Emperours, and to resist the tyrannie of MAXIMINVS. But this election displeased the people of Rome, therefore they were compelled to associat GORDIANVS a young man of 13. yeeres olde in conjunct authoritie with them. This GORDIANVS was the nephew of him who was Proc…nfull in Africke: and the souldiers made out of the way, MAX. PVPIENVS and BALBINVS. So GORDIANVS reigned himselfe alone without associats sixe yeeres. Chron Func.

Philippus.

PHILIPPVS a man borne in Arabia and his son reigned fiue yeeres, Chron, Func. Bucolc. EVSEBIVS saith 7. yeeres. He was the first Emperour who became a Christian, and was baptized by FABIANVS B. of Rome Hee was content to stand among the number of the penitents who made confession of their sinnes, for his life was reproouable in some things before his conuersion, Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 34. especially in slaying of GORDIANVS an Emperour inclined to peace. DECIVS one of the Captaines, of his armie conspired against him, and slewe him and his sonne, and reigned in his stead.

Decius.

DECIVS and his sonne obteiued the empire 2. yeeres, Chron. Func. Whether for hatred of PHILIP his master, whome hee had slaine, or for detestation of The 7. persecution. ANN. Ch. 250.Christians, or for couetous desire of the treasures of PHILIP left in the custodie of FABIAN B. of Rome, or for some other cause, it is not certaine. Alwayes he mooued a terrible persecution against the Christians. The martyrs who suffered death in the time of this persecution were innumerable. Alexander & Babylas both dicd in prison,Some few of the principall martyres I shall rehearse. ALEXANDER Bishop' of Jerusalem died in prison at Casarea. BABYLAS B. of Antiochia died likewise in prison. FABIAN B. of Rome suffered martyrdome. DIONYSIVS ALEXANDRINVS by a wonderfull prouidence of God escaped the handes of persecuting enemies. CYPRIAN B. of Carthage was banished and reserued to the honour of martyrdome vntill the dayes of VALERIAN the eight persecuter. ORIGEN who from his childhood was desirous of the honour of martyredome, in this persecution of DECIVS he fainted, and his heart was so oucrset with feare to hauehave his chaste body defiled with an vgly Ethiopian, that he choosed rather to offer incense to the Idole, then to be so filthily abused. For this cause hee was excommunicate by the Church of Alexardria, and for very shame fled to Judea, where hee was not onelyonly gladly receiued, but also requested publickely to preach at Ierusalem. Origen at Jerusalem closeth the booke and wepeth.Neuerthelesse in stead of teaching hee watred his face with teares, when he reade these words of scripture. To the wak d man sath God, What hast thou to do to declare mine ordinancse, that thou shouldest take my couenant in thy month? Ps. 50. ver. 16. These words so deepely wounded his heart with griefe, that hee closed the booke and sate downe and wept, & all the congregation wept with him, Hist Mag. Cent. 3. cap. 10. No pitie nor compassion was had neither of sexe or age. In this persecution, APOLLONIA, a virgine of good yeeres, after The teeth of the holy martyre Apollonia.they had dashed her face with battons till all her teeth were stricken out of her jawes, they burned her quicke at the port of Alexandria. This is that holy martyre whose teeth the Romaine church in our dayes say that they hauehave them as holy monuments kept in the treasures of their reliques vntill this time. But the tryall that was taken of late dayes by HENRIE the eight king of England, seeking for the teeth of APOLLONIA as a remedy of the toothach clearly prooueth that many teeth are supponed to be the teeth of APOLLONIA that were neuer fastened in her jaw bones, Chemnisius dereliquiis. The death of QVINTA, AMMONARION, MERCVRIA, DIONYSIA, clearly declareth what pitie was had of the weakenesses of women. IVLIANVS an olde and gowtie man burned with fire testifieth what regard was had to the gray haires of ancient men. DIOSCORVS a yong man not exceeding 15. yeres of age, albeit they were ashamed to condemne him to death, yet he escaped not many painfull torments, & was a glorious Confessour with patient expectation awaiting vntill the Lord should call him to the honour of martyrdome, NEMESION was accused in Alexandria as a companion of brigants, and was punished with stripes and fire vntounto the death with greater seueritie then any brigant, albeit his innocencie was sufficiently knowne. AMMON, ZENON, PTOLEMEVS, INGENVVS, THEOPHILVS warriours and knights standing by the tribunall seate beckened with their hands to a certaine weake Christian, who for feare was readie to incline and fall, that hee should continue constant, and stepped to the bench, and professed themselues to be Christians. This dayly increasing courage of Christians, who were emboldened by the multitude of sufferings astonished and terrified the Iudges, Euseb, lib. 6. cap. 41. ISCHYRION was slaine by his owne master. The number of martyres in Alexandria and Egypt, of whome DIONYSIVS in his epistle written to FABIVS Bishop of Antiochia maketh mention, clearely testifieth that if the names of all those who suffered martyrdome in the townes of Rome, Carthage, Antiochia, Ephesus and Babylon, were particularly set down, ouer and beside others who suffered in other townes of Asia, Africke and Europe subject to the dominion of the Romaine Emperour, it were not possible in the volume of a litle booke to comprehend them all. For mine owne part I presume not to do it, but I reuerence the painfull trauelles of learned men who hauehave dipped deepely into such a fruitfull subject, specially the writer of the booke of martyres. OnelyOnly I find somethings in this seuenth persecution, which the principall purpose wherefore I hauehave collected this compend will not permit mee to passe ouer with silence. Namely these: first, let no man thinke that the veritie is weake, and hath neede to bee strengthened by a The veritie hath no neede to be vnderpropped with lies,lie, as NICEPHORVS is accustomed to doe. The seuen martyres of Ephesus, whose names were MAXIMIANVS, MALCHVS, MARTINIANVS, DIONYSIVS, IOANNES, SERAPION, and CONSTANTINVS, were lurking in a caue, the entrie where of DECIVS commanded to be closed with great heapes of stones, to the end that the forenamed Christians might be killed with famine, which came to passe indeede: Yet famine could not s…parate these holy. Martyres from Christ. But NICEPHORVS the father of many other fables also saith, that they fell on sleepe, in which they continued till the time of THEODOSIVS, that is, from the 250 vntill the 379. yeere of our Lord, and then they did awake out of their sleepe saith NICEPHORVS, lib. 5. cap. 27. But he who will giuegive hastie credite to NICEPHORVS fables, writing of the 7. martyres, who lurked in a caue of mount Caelius and to EVAGRIVS description of BARSANVPHIVS an Egyptian monke, who enclosed himselfe in a cottage beside Gaza for the space of 50. yeeres, and vsed no kinde of bodily refreshment to sustaine his earthly tabernacle, he may be easily led to all kinde of errour. The second thing worthy to be marked, is, that many persecuted preachers had wiues and children, as the historie clearely recordeth. CHEREMON B. of a citie in Egypt called Nilus fled to the mountaines of Arabia, accompanied with his wife, and returned not againe to Egypt, neither was hee seene of those who sought him in the wildernesse, Euseb. lib. 6. cap, 42, DIONYSIVS Maried Bishops.B. of Alexandria, who miraculously escaped the crueltie of persecuters, maketh expresse mention of his children, Deo mthi ut migrarem praecipiente, viánque mirabiliter aperiente, ego & liberi, & multi fratres egressi sumus, that is, after that God had commanded me to remooue, and had miraculously opened a passage vntounto mee, I and my children, and brethren went forth, Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 40. If antiquitie be regarded, Bishops who doe marie, are not Nicolaitan Heretiques, but rather such as forbid to marie teach a doctrine of deuils, 1, Tim cap. 4. ver. 3. Thirdly it is to bee marked, that in time of this vehement persecution; many fainted & fell backe from the open profession of Christian faith. Others to prouide timous remedie against such defections, The rigour of Novatus.gaue out a rigorous sentence against such as had fallen of infirmitie, that they should not be receiued againe into the fellowship of the church. In this opinion was NOVATVS, & his complices. And by their example we should learne to beware of such men as vnderunder pretence of zeale pertur be the vnitie of the Church, & inuent remedies to cure the maladies of the diseased Church, that are worse then the sicknes it selfe, as the Nicolaitanes did, Euseb, lib. 6 cap. 43. Weaknes at somo time is to bee pitied, but deuilish rigour pitying no man who falleth of infirmitie, is a lesson that hath no allowance in the booke of God, Gal. 6. ver. 1. This cruell tyrant, after he had reigned two yeeres, made warre against the Scythians (some call them the Gothes) by whom hee was vanquished in battell, and fearing to be ouertaken, and to come vnderunder the reuerence of barbarous people, hee cast himselfe into a deepe pit, where hee ended his life, and his body could not be found, Bucolc. Index Chron. Chron Func. The great desolations that were made in the worlde about this time by the plague of pestilence the Hethnickes imputed the cause of them to the Christians. But CYPRIAN, whose pen the Lord guided better, declared that the cause of all these calamities was the worshipping of Idoles, the contempt of Gods true seruice, and the persecuting of innocent Christians. Cypr. ad Demetrianum.

Gallus & Volusian.

AFter DECIVS, GALLVS & VOLVSIAN his sonne reigned 2 yeere. He walked in the footsteps of DECIVS. Euseb. lib. 7 cap. 1. He was slaine by EMILIAN who presumed to reigne, but he was so hastely made out of the way that Euseb. and many other historitians misknow his name in the Catalogue of Emperours.

Valerianus & Gallienus.

VALERIANVS and GALLIENVS his sonne reigned 15. yeeres Euseb. viz GALLIENVS with his father in coniunct authoritie 7. yeeres, after his fathers captiuitie and death he reigned alone 8. yeeres, in the first three or foure yeres of the Empire of VALERIAN he was favourable and friendlie to Christians and great numbers of them were found in the Emperours court: But afterward he was seduced by an Egyptian sorcerer, who hated Christians, because that by them he was hindered from practising his magicall charmes. So the eight persecution began vnderunder VALERIAN. Euseb. lib. 7. cap. 10. In this The 8. persecution. ANN. Ch. 259.persecution suffered three Bishops of Rome, LVCIVS, STEPHANVS, and SIXTVS 2. and a Deacon Laurence, who was laied vponupon an hote boiling yron, and patientlie endured the torment of fire. This is that Deacon who called the poore the treasure of the Churche: for then is the Church rich, when it is rich in good works, and feedeth, clotheth and visiteth Christ in his hungrie, naked and diseased members. DIONYSIVS Bishop of Alexandria was banished to Cephro, a place in the wildernesse of Lbya. Euseb. lib. 7 cap. xi. PRISCVS, MALCHVS, ALEXANDER were deuoured by beasts in Caesarea Palestinae. Euseb. lib. 7. cap. 12 The martyrdome of Cyprian.CYPRIAN B. of Carthage was beheaded. Nazianz. in laudem Cypriani. MARINVS a Romaine Captaine in Caesarea was invied for the dignity & honour he was advanced vntounto, and he was accused to be a Christian, and consequently to be vncapable of great preferments & dignities: he was encouraged by THEOTECNVS B. of Caesarea patiently to suffer Theotecnus B of Caesarea incourageth Marinus.death for the cause of Christ by taking him in into a secret chalmer and laying before him a drawen sworde and the booke of the Gospell, and bidding him take his choice of one of these two which he liked best. MARINVS liked better of the booke of the Gospell then of the sworde, and was martyred for the faith contained in that sacred booke of holy Scripture. Euseb. lib. 7 cap. 15. ASTYRIVS a noble Senatour caried the body of this holy martyr MARINVS vponupon his own shoulders and buried it honourably. Euseb. ibid. cap. 16. In end the Lord deliuered this persecuting Tyrant into the hande of SAPOR King of Persia, who not only deteened him in strait captiuitie, but also abused him most filthelie, and made his body a footestoole, & trampled vponupon his necke at such times as hee was about to mount on horsebacke. Euseb. eccl. hist. lib. 7. cap. 13. Bucolc. Index chr.

This fearful captiuity of VALERIAN had into it a notable testimony of the wrath of God against persecuters. For like as he trampled vnderunder his feet the Church of Christ: so in like manner the Lord gaue his necke and backe to bee trampledvpon by the feete of his enemies. This example of Gods heauie indignation somewhat terrified GALLIENVS his son, and hee gaue out an edict, for the fafe returning of such as were banished, to their own dwelling p aces, and for staying the rage of persecution. Euseb. lib. 7. cap. 13. DIONYSIVS B. of Alexandria hauing liberty granted by the Emperours edict to returne from banishmēt, came backe again to Alexandria, wherein he found such terrible desolation by famine & pestilēce, that there remained not of men, women & children so many aliue as there were wont to be of ancient hoare headed men, walking vponupon their streets: the Lord was so highly displeased with the vnthankful world, that he Christians full of pitiswas determined to cōsume thē who had cōsumed his people

The good cariage of Christians at this time is worthie to be marked, who were full of charitie & louelove, and visited the sicke, & did all offices of humanitie to those, who were diseased or dead: whereas the Pagans by the contrarie forsooke their dearest friends, left them comfortlesse, and thrust out such as were halfe deade vntounto the streetes, & left them there vuburied, & to be eaten with dogs. This is written in the letter of DIONYSIVS insert in the historie of Euseb. lib. 7. cap. 21 & 22. so great difference is betweene Christians trained vp in the schoole of Christ, & others, who hauehave not bene fed with the sincere milke of the worde. Christians in time of sicknesse were more dutifull to their enemies then others were vntounto their friends.

If any man would defend worshipping of images, to be an ancient custome in the Church, by the two brasen images, The historie of Eusebius concerning the two b…asen images in Caesarea Philipi.which wer set vp in Caesarea Philippi, for a memorial of the miracle that Christ wrought in curing of the woman who had the bloodie issue, Euseb. lib. 7. cap. 18. the foresaide place of EVSEBIVS wil make nothing for him. For these images were not m…de for adoratiō, neither were they set vp in tēples nor worshipping places, but in the very street before the doore of the womā who had ben cured. The places wherunto Christians were gathered together for diuine seruice at this time are called in the mandat of the Emperour GALLIENVS Coemiteria, Euseb. li. 7. cap. 13. In these places no man readeth that images were set vp. Beside this these images were grauen or moiten by the handes of Pagans, and not of Christians: and this fact was done by imitation of the Gentiles, foreign, that is, according to the custome of the Gentiles, he faith not foreign, according to the custome of her owne kinred, but foreign as said is. Yet may we take warning by this place to beware of the small beginnings of errour. Images hauehave bene like vntounto a base borne fellowe who at the first can hauehave no credite to set his head into the Kings palace, but afterward he getteth ingresse into the vtter court, & in end, his credite dayly increasing by degrees, he getteth fauour to ly in the Kings bed chalmer: euen so in the first 300. yeere of our Lord images were not brought in into places of holy conuentions: afterward they were brought in into Churches, but not worshipped, as the Epistle of GREGORIVS the first, written to SEVERVS B. of Marsil clearely testifieth. But in end adoration of images was in so frequent vse, as if it had beene the principall point of the worship of God.

Claudius & Quintilius.

CLAVDIVS after GALLIENVS reigned 2. yeeres, Euseb. lib 7, cap. 29. And his brother QVINTILIVS 17. dayes. He is not reckoned by EVSEBIVS in the rol of Emperours.

Aurelianus.

AFter QVINTILIVS AVRELIANVS possessed the crown, 6. yeeres, Euseb. lib. 7. cap 30. In the beginning of his reigne he was not a great disturber of Christians. Notwithstanding in continuance of time, The 9tpersecution. ANN. Ch. 278,his nature somewhat inclinable to seueritie, was altered to plaine tyrannic, which tyrannie first he shewed beginning with the murther of his own sisters sonne, as witnesseth EVTROPIVS. After that, he proceedeth to moue the ninth persecution against Christians: albeit the mercifull working of God did soone ouerthrow all the wicked purpose of the Emperour. For as the edict and proclamation should hauehave bene denounced for the persecuting of Christians the mightie hand of the Lord from aboue did suddenly stop his purpose: clearely declaring to all men, that there is no power to worke any violence against the seruants of God, vnlesse his permission doe suffer them, and giuegive them lieue, Euseb. lib. 7. cap. 30. Func. Chron. Here I see that D. I. FOXE writer of the booke of martyres taketh lieue of VINCENTIVS martyrologie. If others had done the like, they had not heaped vp so many martyres in the dayes of CLAVDIVS QVINTILIVS, and AVRELIAN as they hauehave done. For EVSEBIVS had assuredly made mention of it, if the number had beene so great as VINCENTIVS recordeth. Before the Emperours minde was altered and inclined to tyranme against Christians, hee assisted with his authoritie the Bishops conueened at Antiochia for the deposition and excommunication Aurelian with ctutle authoritie assisteth the Church against Samosatenus.of the Heretique SAMOSATENVS. And so the Emperours authoritie beeing interponed, this proud Heretique was compelled to stoop and to giuegive place, and with great ignominie was driuen from the towne of Antiochia, Euseb. lib. 7, cap. 30. In his place DOMNVS was elected to be Bishop of Antiochia, a man endued with good graces, the sonne of DEMETRIAN, who immediatly before SAMOSATENVS gouerned the Church of Antiochia. And heere againe it is to be marked that the Bishops at this time (albeit it was a time of persecution) yet did they not abhorre from mariage: for DEMETRIANVS Bishop of Antiochia was a maried man and had children, and DOMNVS was his sonne, so that the prohibition of mariage to men in spirituall offices is not an ancient doctrine.

Annius Tacitus & Florianus.

AFter AVRELIAN was flaine betweene Bizans and Heraclea the imperial chaire was vacant 6. months The Senat of Rome elected ANNIVS TACITVS to be Emperour. He continued but 6. months in his gouernment, EVSEBIVS oue rpasseth his name with sil…nce, as lik…wise the name of his brother FLORIANVS who aspired to the imperiall dignitie, Func. Chron.

Aurelius Probus.

AVRELIVS PROBVS a gentle and peaceable Emperour reigned 6. yeeres 3. months, Euseb. Func. chron. He was inuied by his captaines & souldiers, because hee appointed them to plant vineyardes and saide there was no great neede of souldiers where no enemie was to be feared. Hee was slaine by his souldiers, Func. Chron. Bucolc.

Carus, Carinus, Numerianus.

CARVS with his two sonnes, CARINVS and NVMERIANVS reigned after PROBVS. All these three continued not aboue the space of 3. yeeres, Euseb. lib. 7. cap. 30. And NVMERIANVS was slaine by his owne father in law called APER, Func. Chron. CARVS was slaine by thunder: and CARINVS was ouercome in battell and slaine by DIOCLETIAN, whome the Romaine armie had declared to be Emperor while CARINVS was yet aliue, Bucolc. Index chro.

Diocletianus & Maximianus.

Like as DIOCLETIAN ouercame CARINVS the sonne of CARVS in battell, euen so likewise he slew APER the father in lawe of NVMERIANVS with his owne hands, Func. Chron. Whether this was done for detestation of sin, or for desire of gouernment it is vncertaine. Alwayes some affirme that his concubine DRVAS had said vntounto him that he should kill a wilde Boare before he should be Emperour. And after the killing of APER (which name by interpretation signifieth a wilde Boare) hee became Emperour. In the beginning of his reigne he chused for his college MAXIMIANVS surnamed HERCVLEVS, father to MAXENTIVS. And these two chused other two, viz. GALERIVS & CONSTANTIVS CHLORVS the father of CONSTANTINE, whō they called Casars: but the honourable title of AVGVSTVS DIOCLETIAN & MAXIMIAN retained to themselues. These two A A. reigned 20 yeers. CONSTANTIVS CHLORVS CAESAR. continued 15. yeeres. GALERIVS CAESAR 21. yeeres. DIOCLETIAN and MAXIMIANVS HERCVLEVS abstained from persecuting of Christians vntill the 19 yeere of their reigne. Before I touch the historie of the tenth persecution three things are to be premitted. First, that after the persecution of VALERIAN the 8. persecuter, the Church enjoyed great peace, which albeit it was like to be cut off by the altered minde of AVRELIAN, yet the wise dispensation of the wisdome of God prouided that all his cruell enterprises were disappointed. The righteous Lord cutted the cords of the wicked, Psal. 129. ver. 4. Secondly Christians were in great fauour and credite with Emperours, and to them was committed the gouernement of Prouinces and nations, as clearely appeared in the preferment of DOROTHEVS and GORGONIVS. Thirdly they had libertie to builde oratories and temples, large and ample in eueryevery citie, Euseb eccl. hist. lib. 8. cap. Temples … built by Ch…stians after the death of Valerian.1. All this came to passe in the fourtie yeeres peace that interueened betweene the reigning of VALERIAN, and the nineteenth yeere of the reigne of DIOCLETIAN. Yet the Church of Christ in this shorte time beganne to be feastered with the corrupt maners of carnall and fleshly people, so that contentions abounded, but charitie waxed cold in the Church of God. Euseb. ibid. What wonder was it then that the Lorde permitted this tenth and most horrible persecution of DIOCLETIAN to stirre and to waken drowsie Christians who were beginning to be fashioned'according to the likenesse of the world?

In the 19. yeere of his imperiall authoritie, and in the month of March this horrible periccution beganne to arise, The 10 persecution. ANN. Ch. 308.DIOCLETIAN in the East, and MAXIMIANVS in the West bending all their forces to root out the profession of Christians out of the world. DIOCLETIAN was puft vp in pride for his manifolde victories and triumphes, and would bee counted a God, & adorned his shoes with gold & precious stones, & commanded the people to kisse his feet. This persecution continued 10 yeeres, euen vntill the seuenth yeere of the reigne of CONSTANTINE the great. So that whatsoeuer crueltie was practised by MAXIMIANVS, MAXIMINVS, MAXENTIVS, and LICINIVS algoeth vnderunder the name of DIOCLETIAN the authour of this tenth persecution. Crnell edicts and proclamations were set foorth in the beginning of this persecution, commanding to ouerthrow & cast to the ground the temples of Christians, to burne the bookes of holy scripture, to displace all such as were magistrats and were in office, and to cast Christian Bishops into prison, and to compell them with sundrie kinds of punishments, to offer vntounto Idoles. Also common people, who would not renounce the profession of Christianitie to bee spoyled of their libertie, Euseb. lib. 8 cap 3. These edicts were hastely put in execution. Many Christians were scourged, racked, & cruciated with intollerable torments. Some were violently drawne to impure sacrifice, and as though they had sacrificed, when indeede they did not, were let go: some were cast downe vponupon the ground, and drawne by the legges a great space, and the people was made to beleeue, that they had sacrificed: some stoutly withstood them, and denied with a loude voice that they had bene, or euer would be partakers of idolatrie. Notwithstanding, of the weake sort many for feare and infirmitie gaue ouer euen at the first brunt, Euseb lib 8. cap. 3. When the foresaid edicts were John a noble man borne, rent in pieces the Emperours proclamation.proclaimed, both the Emperours hapned to be in the town of Nicomedia: notwithstanding a certaine Christian beeing a noble man borne, whose name was IOHN, ran and tooke downe the proclamation, and openly tare and rent it in pieces. For which fact hee was put to a most bitter death, which he patiently indured vntill his last gaspe. Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 5. The generall captaine of the armie of DIOCLETIAN gaue choice to the souldiers, whether they would obey the Emperours commandement in offering sacrifices, and keepe still their offices, or else lay away their armour, and be depriued of their offices: but the Christian souldiers were not onelyonly content to lay away their armour, but also to offer themselues vntounto the death, …ather then to obey such vnlawfull commandements, Euseb. lib. 8 cap. 4. In Nicomedia the Emperour refrained not from the slaughter and death of the children of Emperours, neither yet from the slaughter of the chiefest princes of his court, such as PETER, whose body beeing beaten with whips and torne that a man might see the bare bones, and after they had mingled vineger and salt, they powred it vponupon the most tender partes of his body, and lastly rosted him at a soft fire as a man would rost flesh to eate, and so this victorious martyre ended his life. DOROTHEVS and GORGONIVS The martyrdome of Peter, Dorotheus and Gorgonius.beeing in great authoritie and office vnderunder the Emperour after diuerse torments were strangled with an halter. The torments that PETER suffered, encouraged them to giuegive a worthy confession that they were of that same faith and religion that PETER was of, Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 6. This persecution raged most vehemently in Nicomedia, where the Emperours palace through some occasion beeing set on fire, the Christians were blamed as authors of that fact: Therefore so many as could bee found out, were burned with fire, or drowned in water, or beheaded with the sword, amongst whome was ANTHIMVS Bishop of Antiochia, who was beheaded. The bodies of the sonnes of Emperours that were buried, th…y digged out of their graues, and sent them in boates to be buried into the bottome of the sea, lest Christians should hauehave worshipped them as gods, if their sepulchres had bene knowne. Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 6. such opinion they had of Christians. The number of twentie thousand burned in one temple of Nicomedia by MAXIMIANVS smelleth of the libertie that NICEPHORVS taketh in adding many things to the veritie of the historie. The martyrdome of SERENA the Emperour DIOCLETIANS wife is rejected by learned men as a fable, albeit recorded by HERMANNVS GIGAS. The number of Christians cast into prison and appointed for death was so great, that scarcely if a voide place could be found in a prison to thrust in a murtherer, or an opener of graues, such heapes of Christians were inclosed in darke prisons, Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 6. The martyrs of Palestina, of Tyrus in Phenicia, of Tarsus, of Antioch…a, of Alexand…ia, of M…letina in Armenia, and of Pontus, Cappadocia and Arabia they could not easily bee numbred. In Thebaida horrible and vnnaturall crueltie was Horrible crueltie against Christian women.vsed against Christian women, whome they hanged vponupon gibbetts with their heades down-ward toward the ground, and fastened one of their legges allanerly to the gibbet, the other beeing free: thus their naked bodies hanging vponupon trees in maner foresaid presented to the beholders a spectacle of most vile and horrible inhumanitie, Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 9. In like maner the branches of trees were artificially bowed downe to the earth, and the feete and legges of Christians tied to them, so that by their hastie returning againe vntounto their naturall places the bodies of Christians were rent in pieces. This was not a crueltie finished in a short space of time, but of long continuance, some dayes 20. some 30. some dayes 60. and at some times an hundreth were with sundrie kindes of torments excruciated vntounto the death. And these torments they suffered with joy and gladnesse, and singing of Psalmes vntill the last breath, Euseb. ibid. In Phrygia a towne was set on fire by the Emperours commandement (the name where of EVSEBIVS passeth ouer A towne in Phrygiaset on fire, and al the inh…bitants bu…nt with fire.with silence) and the whole inhabitants beeing Christians, men women and children were burned with fire, Euseb lib. 8. cap. 11. TIRANNION Bishop of Tyrus, ZENOBIVS Presbyter of Sidon, SILVANVS Bishop of Gaza, and PAMPHILVS a worthy Presbyter in Casarea, whose life and death EVSEBIVS hath described in a seuerall treatise, all these (I say) were crowned with martyrdome, Euseb lib. 8. cap. 13. MAXIMIANVS Emperour of the West, whose persecution EVSEBIVS describeth not at such length as the persecution of DIOCLETIAN in the East, hee was like vntounto a wilde Boare trampling vnderunder his feete the vine-yarde of God. Hee slewe MAVRITIVS a noble Captaine with a legion of Christian and Thebane Mauritius with a whole legion of Christian souldiers martyred.souldiers, because they would not consent to offer sacrifice vntounto idoles. This was done beside the riuer of Rhonne, hist. Magd. Cent. 4. The martyres of France, Italic and Germanie, specially at Colen and Triers, where the blood of Christians was shed in such aboundance, that it ranne like small brookes, and it coloured great and maine riuers, the multitude (I say) of these holy martyres, and the diuersitie of tormentes dayly excogitate against them, what memorie is able to comprehend, or what tongue is able sufficiently to expresse? In ende, when these two Emperours were drunken with the blood of the Saintes of God, and sawe that the numbers of Christians dayly increased, they beganne to relent their forie and madnesse a litle, beeing at last content that the punishment of Christians should bee the thrusting out of their right eyes, and the maiming of their left legges with condemning them to the mines of Mettalles, Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 12. The mercies of the wicked are cruell, saith SALOMON Prou. 12. ver. 10. Before two yeeres were fully compleete after the beginning of this tenth persecution, these two furious persecuters (for what cause God knoweth) gaue ouer their imperiall function, and remained not Emperours any more, but as priuate persons, Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 13, DIOCLETIAN after he had denuded himselfe Diocletian and Maximian giuegive ouer their imperiall function.of the imperiall dignitie, liued almost 9. yeeres. MAXIMIAN within foure yeeres after, was slaine by the commandement of CONSTANTINE, Bucolc. The imperiall dominion then remained with CONSTANTIVS CHLORVS and GALERIVS MAXIMINVS. These two diuided the whole monarchie betweene them. CONSTANTIVS contented himselfe with France, Spaine and Brittaine: GALERIVS MAXIMINVS had the rest. CONSTANTIVS tooke CONSTANTINVS his sonne to bee CAESAR vnderunder him, and GALERIVS MAXIMINVS chused his two sonnes, MAXIMINVS & SEVERVS to be CAESARS vnderunder him. The Romaine souldiers also set vp MAXENTIVS the son of MAXIMIANVS HERCVLEVS to be their Emperour: against whom GALERIVS sent his sonne SEVERVS, who beeing slaine, he chused LICINIVS in his stead. Of these fiue, who reigned all at one time (the like whereof came not to passe at any time before) two Emperours and three Caesars, three of them viz. GALERIVS and MAXIMINVS his sonne, and LICINIVS prosecuted the persecution, begun by DIOCLETIAN, neere the space of 7. or 8. yeeres, which was to the yeere of our Lord 318. The other two, CONSTANTIVS and his sonne CONSTANTINE, were fauourable to Christians.

Constantius & Galerius Maximinus.

CONSTANTIVS CHLORVS reigned as Emperour 13. yeeres. Others say 16 some say 11 yeeres. Hee ended his life in peace at Yorke, Hist. Magd. Hee was not onelyonly friendly to Christians, but also hee counted them the only faithful subjects to Emperours. And such as hee perceiued that for louelove of honour, gaine or any Constantius tried his captames whether they w…re Christians or not.worldly commoditie would make shipwracke of a good conscience and sacrifice to idoles (albeit they had allowance by his owne fained commandement, giuen out for exploration of the religion of his Captaines and souldiers, rather then seriously and from his heart, allowing the worshipping of idoles) these (I say) who made no conscience to worship idoles for conquessing fauour at the Emperours hands, he disauthorized them, remoued them from offices and counted them men who were false to God, and would neuer be true to him, Euseb. de vita Constantini: lib. 1.

MAXIMINVS elder & yonger in the East parts of the world were cruell persecuters. Because ecclesiastical writers do not clearly distinguish the crueltie of the father from the crueltie of the son, I shal comprise al vnderunder the name of GALERIVS MAXIMINVS the father of the other MAXIMINVS. He was not vnlike vntounto PHARAO, for when the correcting hand of God was vponupon him, then he relented his furie: but when the plague ceased, hee returned againe to his wonted malice. First God smote him with a wonderfull vncouth disease, so that his flesh began to putrifie & innumerable multitude of vermine swarmed out of his inward parts, then hee commanded that the persecution should cease, and that Christians should pray for him, & he published edicts of peace in their fauours throughout all his dominions. But scarce continued he in this good resolution 6. months, when as he sent out contrarie edicts, and caused them to be engraued in brasse (which thing was not done at any time before) & to be set vp in eueryevery citie, Euseb. lib. 9. cap. 7. whereupon ensued grieuous persecution. SILVANVS B. of Emisa. LVCIANVS B. of Antiuchia, who suffered martyrdome at Nicomedia after hee had giuen in his apologie to the Emperour, and PETER B. of Alexandria, Euseb. lib 9. cap. 6. The martyrdome of king ANTHEAS and 37. thousand moe martyrs with him 1 passe by as a thing vncertaine: because EVSEBIVS could not hauehave ouerpassed with silence such a rare and wonderful crueltie committed in his owne time, if it had bene of veritie done, as some alledge. Other thirtie thousand are said till hauehave beene martyred in sundrie places, and this is very probable, because the martyres who suffered in this tenth persecution were innumerable. QVIRINVS B. of Scescania a towne of vpper Pannonia was throwne into the flood hauing an hand mill hanged about his necke, and so was drowned. I leaue a recitall of the names of all the rest of the martyres, of whom I reade to hauehave suffered martyrdom at this time, like as I hauehave done in all the preceeding persecutions.

Now to speake somewhat of the cruell edict of this Emperour ingraued in brasse, and hanged vp in all principall Edicts against Christians ingraued in brasse.cities, specially in Tyrus. In it he gloried, that peace, wealth, prosperitie and plentie of all good things were in his time: and he attributed the glory of all this aboundance to the deuote worshipping of the heathen gods. At this time (saith EVSEBIVS) was that fulfilled which the Lord Iesus foretold that the tribulation of those dayes should be so great, that except those dayes had bene shortened, no flesh could hauehave bene saued: but for the Electes sake those dayes should be shortened: yea and if it were possible the very Elect should be deceiued, Mat. 24. ver. 22. & ver. 24. But the Lord pitying A sudden change of the prosperitie of Pagans into adu…suie.the infirmitie of his Saintes, and to stop the blasphemous mouthes of heathen people, turned suddenly al their joy into mourning and lamentation, with famine, pestilence, warfare and vncouth diseases, whereby the eyes of men and women were blinded, the Lord dantoned the insolent pride of this bloodie Tyrant. It is to be noted that in time of this publicke calamitie, Christians and no others but they onelyonly, were found to be fraughted with louelove and full of charitie euen toward their hatefull enemies, Euseb. lib. 9. cap. 8. The second time whereinto MAXIMINVS seemed to change his minde toward Christians was after the victorie obtained by CONSTANTINE and LICINIVS against MAXENTIVS. The said two Emperours set foorth edictes in fauour of the Christians: and MAXIMINVS rather fearing CONSTANTINE then louing God, began in his bounds also to stay the rage of cruell persecution, as the letter written to his Deputie SABINVS clearely declareth, Euseb. lib. 9. cap. 9. But incontinent after hee altered his minde and set foorth Maximinus was ouercome in battel by Licinius.newe commandements to persecute the Christians. Yet the Lord pitying the grieuous afflictions of his persecuted Church, brought this Tyrant to an ende. For hee made warre against LICINIVS beeing counselled thereto by his sorcerers and charmers, who promised vntounto him good successe in his battell against LICINIVS: but the contrarie fell out: for hee was discomfited, and cast off his imperiall ornaments, and fledde feeble and naked, and mixed himselfe with the effeminat multitude, wandering through townes, and lurking in villages, hardly escaped the handes of his enemies. After this he killed and put to death those enchanters and deceiuers who had bewitched him all his dayes, and had put him in esperance of victorie in his battell foughten against LICINIVS, and shortly after oppressed with a certaine disease, glorified the God of the Christians, and made a most absolute lawe for the safetie and preseruation of them. And so the Tyrant of Tyrants by the vehemencie of his sicknesse ended his life, Euseb. eccl. hist. lib. 9. cap. 10.

After wee hauehave spoken a litle of MAXENTIVS who was chosen Emperour by the Praetorian souldiers, resteth nothing but to conclude this short summe of the historie of the ten persecutions with the ende and death of that notable hypocrite LICINIVS. MAXENTIVS was so villanous in his behauiour, that hee abstained not from abusing of the wiues of noble senatours, whome hee reft violently from their husbands, and contumeliously abused them, and sent them backe againe, Euseb, lib. 8. cap. 14. The like villanie also hee intended till hauehave done to a certaine Christian gentlewoman at Rome, called SOPHRONIA, Sophronia chused rather to kil…her selfe then to be abused by Maxentius.whose husband neither could nor durst make resistance to the vile appetite of the proud Emperour, but this noble woman desiring libertie to goe to her chalmer to adorne and decke her selfe a shorte while, and after shee would goe with the messingers to the Emperour, shee chused rather to put her selfe to death in her chalmer then to be abused by him, Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 15. Which lamentable fact being reported to him, hee was nothing mooued therewith, neither abstained hee any white from his wonted sinnes. The people of Rome beeing wearie of his villanie sent to CONSTANTINE for aide, who gathered an armie in France and Brittaine to represse this Tyrant: to whome when hee approched, hee feared MAXENTIVS charmes (wherewith hee was supponed to hauehave vanquished SEVERVS, whome GALERIVS MAXIMINVS had sent against him before) and stood in doubt what to Constantine seeth the similitud of a bright crosse inheauen.doe: and as hee was doubting hee cast his eyes oftimes to heauen, and sawe about the going downe of the sunne a brightnesse in the heauen in the similitude of a Crosse, with certaine starres of equall bignesse giuing this inscription like Latin letters, In hoc vince, that is in this ouercome, Euseb. lib. 1. de vita Constantini. After this vision his banner was made in the similitude of a Crosse, and caried before him in his warres. MAXENTIVS was compelled to issue out Maxentius ouer come in battell by Constantine.of the towne against CONSTANTINE, whose force when hee was not able to sustaine, he fled, and retired in hope to get the citie, but was ouerthrowne off his horse about the bridge called Pons Milvius and drowned in the flood.

DIOCLETIAN hearing tell of the prosperous successe of CONSTANTINE, and what edicts hee had set foorth for the peace of Christians, for very griefe hee died. Others alledge that he poysoned himselfe. Ann. 317.

LICINIVS was made CAESAR by MAXIMINVS, as said is. He was very familiar with CONSTANTINE and was his colleg in the gouernement 7. yeeres, and maried CONSTANTIA the s…er of CONSTANTINE, Euseb. lib. 10. cap. 8. Likewise he concurred with him to subdue the tyrant MAXENTIVS. Also he ouercame MAXIMINVS in battell. He purposed likewise to hauehave circumueened and slaine the good Emperour CONSTANTINE to whome he was many wayes greatly addebted but the Lord disappointed his counsells, & preserued CONSTANTINE to the great benefite and well of his Church. But LICINIVS failing of his purpose conuerted his rage against the Christians, notwithstanding he had set out edicts before to procure their peace. Hee pretended this quarrell against them, that they prayed for the welfare of CONSTANTINE and not for his welfare. Euseb. lib. 2. de vita Constantini. He Three cruell edicts of Licinius against Christians.set foorth against the Christians three cruell edicts. 1. Inhibiting assemblies and conuentions of Bishops to consult in matters belonging to their religion 2. He discharged women to resort to the assemblies where men were to pray or to be instructed in matters pertaining to religion. 3. Hee commanded that no man should visite imprisoned Christians or succour them with any reliefe, threatning against the contraueeners such punishment as the imprisoned persons were to suffer, Euseb. li. 10. ca. 8. After these edicts the mountaines, woods & wildernesses began to be the habitation of the Lords saints, Euseb. lib. 10. cap. 8. The Bishops about Libya and Egypt were taken, cut in pieces, and their flesh cast into the sea to be baite to the fish. And this was done by the flatterers of LICINIVS, supponing to gratifie him by the cruell handling of the Lords seruants. In his time were put to death these 40. martyres of whome BASILIVS writeth, who were set in a pond of water all night lying open to the blasts of the cold Northerne winds, and in the morning they beeing frozen and almost senslesse with the extremitie of the colde, yet were caried vponupon carts to be burned with fire, to the ende their poore carkeises might feele by experience whether the extremitie of cold or heate were the greater torment Of these 40. noble souldiers of Christ one beeing stronger then the rest indured the vehemencie Fortie martyrs tormented first with cold and next w…th heate.of the cold better, to whome his mother came, not to desire him to embrace this present life by a filthie denial of Christ, nor to weepe for the paines of the tormented body of her sonne, but rather to exhort…her sonne to perseuere constantly in the faith of Christ to the ende: for shee craued licence to lift vp her sonne with her owne handes into the cart, admonishing him to accomplish that happie journey he had begunne. But whether these were the 40. martyres who suffered the like punishment in Sebastia a towne of Armenia, or not, Sozom. lib. 9. cap. 2. it is not certaine, in respect that some circumstances set downe by BASIL. doe not agree to those of Sebastia, Basil. Magn. in 40 martyres.

Likewise in this persecution suffered BARLAN a noble man mentioned in a sermon of BASILIVS, who after many torments was in end laid vponupon the altar, whereupon they vsed to offer sacrifice to idols, & while there was yet some strēgth in his hande, they put franckincense into his right hande, thinking that he would hauehave scattered the incense vponupon the altar, and sacrificed but he endured the torment patiently, saying the words of the Psalme 145. Blessed be the Lord who teacheth mine hands to fight. In end LICINIVS made warre against CONSTANTINE and being diuerse times ouercome both by sea and land, he yeelded himselfe at length, and was sent to Thessalia to liue a priuate life, where he was slaine by the souldiers. SO CONSTANTINE obtained the whole empire alone.

Here ende the ten persecutions.