How the Emperor Severus divided that Part of Britain which be fubdud, from the rest by a Trench,

In the Year from the Incarnation of our An. 189.

African Race, a Severus.

Tripoline of the Town of Lepti, the seventeenth that obtain'd the Empire from Auguftus, held it seventeen Years. This Man being naturally stern, engag'd in many Wars, govern'd the Commonwealth most strenuously, but with much Trouble. Having been victorious in all the Civil Wars which hapned to be most grievous in his Time, he was drawn into Britain. by the Revolt of almost all the Confederates, where, after many great and dangerous Battles, he thought fit to divide that Part of the Island, which he had recover'd from the other unconquer'd Nations, not with a Wall, as some imagine, but with a Rampart. For a Wall is made of Stones, but a Rampart, with which Camps are fortify'd to repel the Power of Enemies, is made of Sods, with the which, cut out of the Earth, something like a Wall is rais'd up above the Ground, in such a manner that be

C3

before it is the Ditch whence the Sods were taken, on which strong Stakes of Wood are fix'd, (now call'd Pallisades.) Thus Severus drew a great Ditch and strong Rampart, fortify'd with several Towers, from Sea to Sea; and dy'd of Sickness there at York, leaving two Sons, Baffianus and Geta; of whom Geta dy'd, adjudg'd a publick Enemy; but Baffianus having taken the Surname of Antoninus, obtain'd the Empire.

:

Ann. 286.

Dioclesian.

CHAP. VI.

The Reign of Dioclesian, and how he per-
Secuted the Christians.

I

N the Year of the Incarnation of our Lord, 286. Dioclefian the 33d Emperor from Auguftus, chosen by the Army, reign'd twenty Years, and created Maximianus furnam'd Herçulius, his Companion in the Empire. In their Time one Caraufius, of very mean Birth, but an expert and able Soldier, being appointed to guard the Sea-Coafts, then infested by the Francs and Saxons, acted more to the Prejudice than to the Advantage of the Commonwealth, not reftoring the Booty taken from the Robbers to the Owners, but keeping all to himself, became suspected; that by his Neglect he permitted the Enemy to infeft the Frontiers. Being therefore order'd by Maximian to be put to Death, he took upon him the Imperial Robes, and possess'd himself of Britain, Britain, which having most valiantly retain'd and afferted for the space of seven Years, he was at length put to Death by the Treachery of his Associate Albertus. He having thus got the Island from Caraufius, held it three Years, and was suppress'd by Afclepiodotus, the Captain of the Pretorian Bands, who thus at the End of ten Years recover'd Britain. In the mean time Dioclesian in the East, and Maximianus Herculius in the West, the tenth Time from Nero, commanded the Churches to be destroy'd, and the Chriftians to be flain; the which Perfecution was more lafting and bloody, Ann. 304. than all the others before it; for it was car-Tenth Perried on the space of ten Years inceflantly, fecution. with burning of Churches, outlawing of innocent Perfons, and Slaughter of Martyrs. At length, it also honoured Britain with much Glory of devoutly confeffing God.

k Bede speaks of the length of the Persecution in general, for in the Western Parts it continued but two Years, as Eufebius obferves. De Martyrol. Pal. c. 13.

Ann. 305.

CHAP. VII.

The Paffion of St. Alban and his Companions, who at that Time shed their Blood for our Lord.

T that Time suffer'd St. Alban, of whom the Priest Fortunatus, in the Praise of Virgins, when he made mention of the blefsed Martyrs that came to the Lord from all Parts of the World, says,

Albanum egregium facunda Britannia profert.
That is,

Fruitful Britain Holy Alban yields,

This Alban being yet a Pagan, at the Time when the Commands of perfidious Princes rag'd against Christians, gave Entertainment in his House to a certain Clergyman, Aying from the Perfecutors, observing him wholly addicted to continual Prayer, and watching Day and Night; on a sudden the Divine Grace shining on him, he began to admire his Example of Faith and Piety, and being leisurely instructed by his wholsome Admonitions, cafting off the Darkness of Idolatry, he became a Christian in all Sincerity of Heart. The aforefaid Clergyman having been some Days entertain'd by him, it came to the Ears of the wicked Prince, that the Confeffor of CHRIST, to whom the Place of Martyrdom had not been been yet appointed, was conceal'd at Alban's House. Whereupon he presently order'd Soldiers to make a strict Search after him. When they came to the Martyr's House, St. Alban immediately presented himself to the Soldiers, instead of his Guest and Master, in his Habit, or the long Coat he wore, and was led bound before the Judge. It hapned that the Judge, at the Time when Alban was carried before him, was standing at the Altar, and offering Sacrifice to Devils. When he saw Alban, being much inrag'd for that he had presum'd of his own accord, to put himself into the Hands of the Soldiers, and run that Danger for his Guest; he commanded him to be dragg'd to the Images of Devils, before which he stood, faying, Because you have chosen to conceal a rebellious and facrilegious Person, rather than to deliver him up to the Soldiers, that the Contemner of the Gods might suffer the Penalty due to his Blasphemy, you shall undergo all the Punishment that was due to him, if you depart from the Worship of our Religion. But St. Alban, who had voluntary declar'd himself a Christian to the Perfecutors of the Faith, was not at all daunted at the Prince's Threats, but being arm'd with the Armour of the Spiritual Warfare, publickly declar'd, that he would not obey his Commands. Then said the Judge, Of what Family or Race are you? What does it concern you, answer'd Alban, of what Stock I am? But if you desire to hear the Truth of my Religion, be it known to you, that I am now a Christian, and addicted to Christian Duties. I ask your Name, said the Judge, which tell

me