CHAP. V.

How the Emperor Severus divided that Part of Britain which he fubdu'd, from the reft by a Trench,

N the Year from the Incarnation of our An. 189. Lord, 189. Severus, of African Race, a Severus. Tripoline of the Town of Lepti, the feventeenth that obtain'd the Empire from Auguftus, held it feventeen Years. This Man being naturally ftern, engag'd in many Wars, govern'd the Commonwealth moft ftrenuously, 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 almoft 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 fome imagine, but with a i Rampart. For a Wall is made of Stones, but a Rampart, with which Camps are fortify'd to repel the Power of Encmies, is made of Sods, with the which, cut out of the Earth, fomething like a Wall is rais'd up above the Ground, in fuch a manner that C 3

be

before it is the Ditch whence the Sods were taken, on which ftrong Stakes of Wood arc fix'd, (now call'd Pallifades.) Thus Severus drew a great Ditch and ftrong 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.

Dioclefian.

CHAP. VI.

The Reign of Dioclefian, and how he perfecuted the Chriftians.

IN

N the Year of the Incarnation of our Lord, 286. Dioclefian the 33d Emperor from Auguftus, chofen by the Army, reign'd twenty Years, and created Maximianus furnam'd Herculius, 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 Frans and Saxons, acted more to the Preju dice than to the Advantage of the Commonwealth, not reftoring the Booty taken from the Robbers to the Owners, but keeping all to himself, became fufpected; that by his Neglect he permitted the Enemy to infest the Frontiers. Being therefore order'd by Maximian to be put to Death, he took upon him the Imperial Robes, and poffefs'd himself of

Britain,

Britain, which having most valiantly retain'd and aflerted for the fpace of feven Years, he was at length put to Death by the Treachery of his Affociate Albertus. He having thus got the Island from Caraufius, held it three Years, and was fupprefs'd by Afclepiedotus, the Captain of the Pretorian Bands, who thus at the End of ten Years recover'd Britain. In the mean time Dioclefian in the Eaft, and Maximianus Herculius in the Weft, the tenth Time from Nero, commanded the Churches to be deftroy'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 Per ried on the space of ten Years inceflantly, fecution. with burning of Churches, outlawing of innocent Perfons, and Slaughter of Martyrs. At length, it alfo honoured Britain with much Glory of devoutly confeffing God.

k

k Bede peaks of the length of the Perfecution 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 fbed their Blood for our Lord.

A

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

Albanum egregium facunda Britannia profert.
That is,

been yet appointed, was conceal'd at Alban's House. Whereupon he prefently order'd Soldiers to make a ftri&t Search after him. When they came to the Martyr's Houfe, St. Alban immediately prefented himself to the Soldiers, instead of his Guest and Mafter, 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 prefum'd of his own accord, to put himself into the Hands of the Soldiers, and run that Danger for his Gueft; he commanded him to be dragg'd to the Images of Devils, before which he ftood, faying, Because you have chofen to conceal a rebellious and facrilegious Perfon, rather than to deliver him up to the Soldiers, that the Contemner of the Gods might fuffer the Penalty due to his Blafphemy, you fall undergo all the Punishment that was due to him, if you depart from the Worship of our ReligiBut St. Alban, who had voluntary declar'd himself a Chriftian 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 declard, that he would not obey his Commands. Then faid the Judge, of what Family or Race are you? What does it concern you, anfwer'd Alban, of what Stock I am? But if you defire to hear the Truth of my Religion, be it known to you, that I am now a Chriftian, and addicted to Chriftian Duties. I ask your Name, faid the Judge, which tell

on.

me