Sixth Per Lecution Pupienus and Balbi nus, A. D. 239. Gordianus, A. D. 246. after to be one of his Guard, and at laft the Soldiers elected him Emperour. But a Tyrant he proved, as well to the Roman State in general, as the Chriftians in particular, against whom he railed the fixth Perfecution. His Conditions were fo hateful, that the Senate advanced one Gordianus to fway the Empire; but he proving unfortunate in his Attempts against him, ftrangled himself. And Maximinus, as he was drawing his Forces towards Rome, to revenge himself on the Senate; at the Siege against Aquileia, was flain in his Pavilion by his difcontented Soldiers. The Citizens Wives in the time of this Siege cut off the Hair of their Heads to make Bow-strings thereof. Pupees ed Emperours; the People extolling the Senate Upienus Maximus, and Clodius Balbinus, were by the Peers and for their prudent Choice of fo Wife Men, contrary to the rath Practice of fuch, who choose their Governours to fit their own Fancies. But the Pretorian Soldiers taking this as a Reflection upon them, and chiefly becaufe German Strangers were brought in to be of the Guard, as if themselves were not to be trusted; turning their Spleens against thefe Emperours, they affaulted them in their Cham bers, defpoiled them of their Imperial Robes, haled them through the City like two Thieves; and lastly flew them, leaving their Bodies to defpightful Ignominy, in 4. D. 241. in which Year was fo great an Eclipfe of the Sun, that the Noon-day thereby became as dark as the Midnight. A Ntonius Gordianus was by the Senate and Pretorian Band elected Emperour, when he was not yer full fixteen Years of Age. He caufed the Temple of Fanus at Rome, which had long flood fhut, to be opened; a fure Token that Wars were at Hand; which with good Succefs he prosecuted against the Perfians, Goths, Sarmates and Germans. He was most noble and lovely conditioned, exceeding Studious, and addicted unto Learning, having in his Library no less than 62000 Books. But by his Prefect Philip he was depofed, Philip alfo ufurping the Imperial Government, under whom for a time this depofed Youth held an ordinary Captain's place; but the Ufurper, judging himself not fecure while Gordianus lived, commanded him to be flain. Philippus, Ulius Philippus Arabs hath the Honour, according to fome, of being the first Emperour Baptized into the Chriftian Faith, together with his Wife Severa, and Son Philip. Himfelf and his Son were flain by the Soldiers. Of his Son it is reported, that he was of fo admirable Compof:dnefs, that in all his Life he was never feen to laugh. Traianus, Τ Rajanus Decius fwayed the Empire like a worthy Prince, faving his perfecuting the Saints of God; for he it was that railed Seventh the feventh Perfecution against the Chriflians. Under him fuffered Perfecution Fabianus Fabianus and Cornelius, Bifhops of Rome; St. Lawrence, and many other good Chriftians he put to great Tortures; amongst the reit Origen, he caufed to be fcourged at an Iron itake, and then lock'd his Feet in the Stocks four paces afunder. But after that he had feen his two Sons, Decius and Hoftilianus lain before his Face, himfelf was swallowed up in a Whirl-pool, never having other Honour of Burial. Rebonianus Gallus (whom Decius had appointed Governour of TreboniaMyfia, and to keep the Paffages from the invading Goths,) nus, A. D. through the defire of Rule, plotted with the Goths against the Roman Army, to the Ruine of his Sovereign Lord; but thereby he attained the Empire he had lufted after. The Chriftians he banish'd. At which time lo violent a Peftilence commenced, that no Province in the World was exempt from it. He made a difhonourable Peace with the Goths, who notwithilanding continued their Furies Obianus, against the Romans, which his General Emilianus Mauras revenged Arch-Bi with a wonderful Slaughter; whereby Emilian grew fo famous, op of Lou and Gallus fo contemptible, that the Soldiers proclaimed Emilian Emperor, who flew Gallus and his Son both in Fight. Julius don. Ulius Emilianus, an African by Birth, of bafe Parentage, was Emilianus elected Emperour only by the Myfian Army; which, Election the 4. D. 255* Italian Bands oppofed, in favour of their own Leader Valeriamus, whom they fought to promote to the Empire; the Senate alfo inclining thereto. Therefore the Myfian Soldiers, when they underflood this, tumultubully murthered Emilianus, when he had reigned about four Months. gracious and mild toward the Chriftians; but afterwards A. A. 255 (irred up by an Egyptian Sorcerer) he began the Eighth Perfecution Eighth with great Cruelty. Many were the Martyrs which with horrible Perfecuti Tortures he caufed to be put to Death; but the just revenging hand *** of God cut him off by Sapor, the falvage King of Perfia, who in Battle took him Prifoner, and made his aged Back his Foot-itool whilft he mounted his Horfe, for the fpace of feven Years, and then caufed him to be flea'd alive and falted. Sack-cloth, not being feen for many Days together; alfo A.D. 268, great and fearful Earthquakes happened, which overthrew Cities and other Edifices, fhaking the Ground fo terribly, that vaft Caves, and hideous gaping Bowels of the Earth were thereby laid open, and great Streams of Salt-water flowed out from them; the Earth roared, and feemed to thunder, when there was no Voice heard in the Air above. The Sea over-fwelled her Banks, and brake into many Continents, drowning Countries, Cities and People; and fo violent a Peftilence raged, that in Rome, no lefs than five thousand time the Sun clouded as under Galicus. The Perfons died thereof in a Day. Which faid Calamities fomewhat Claudius Aurelius Flavin, Claudius was elected by the Soldiers before the 271. Walls of Milan, and with much joy was confirmed Emperor by the Senate in Rome. He flew and took Prifoners of the Goths, (who had invaded Italy) in one Battle Three Hundred Thoufand Fighting Men; Two Thousand of their Ships alfo, laden with Warlike Ammunition he took; but died of a Fever before he had Reigned full Two Years. His Statue of Gold the Senate caufed to Arch-bibap be fet up in the Capitol, and his Target of the fame Mettal, to be of London. hung up in the Senate-house. Conan, Quintilius, d. D. 172. A Urelius Quintilius, Brother to Claudius, was proclaimed Emperor by the Soldiers of his Army, and was confirmed by the Senate; but the Soldiers that had followed Claudius, thinking themfelves worthy of the firit Voice in the Election, proclaimed Aureliaus for Emperor; and Quintilius, knowing that he could not stand against him, chofe rather by cutting his Veins, to bleed himfelf to than to hazard the Death, after he had Reigned only Seventy gate. chance of War, or to return to his private State. Aurelianus Alerius Aurelianus fubdued the Swevians and Sarmates, and with A. D. 273. great Valour forced the Germans out of Italy. The Warlike Queen Zenobia he vanquished, and brought her in Triumph to Rome. But that which blemishes the Luftre of this Prince is, That he Ninth Per raifed the ninth Perfecution against the Chriftians. He was flain fecurion. by his Servants. Tacitus, A. D. 279. C Laudius Tacitus, after Eight Months Interregnum, with much importunity, took upon him the Government of the Empire; for all feemed now to decline this greatnefs,they faw it fo hazardous. But this Prince Reigning about Six Months yielded to Death's impartial Stroke: Whether that was natural or violent is left uncertain. Florianus, ANnius Florianus, Brother to Tacitus, took upon him the Name 297. Probus, and Authority Imperial; but hearing the News of Probus his Election, he bled himself to Death, after he had for a very few Days pleafed himself with only the fhadow of Sovereignty. V Alerius Probus was elected by the Eastern Army, and had his his Title of Auguftus, namely, The Father of his Country and higheft Bishop. His firft Service, after he was Emperor, was in Gallia again the Germans, who had niade themfelves Lords thereof, where in one Battel continuing two Days, he flew 4000oo of them, and recovered out of their hands feven Cities. He quieted the Provinces of Mufcovia, Ruffia and Polonia, and likewife Greece, Syria, Arabia, Palaflina, and Judea. Whence paffing into Perfia, he had honourable Conditions of Narfes their mighty King: Whereupon iffued fo univerfal a Peace, that no Wars were heard of it all the Provinces of the Empire. But this calma lafted but a fhort time; for the Egyptians, and likewife Bonofus and Proclus, rebel against him; all whom he fubdued. Other Defections and Rebellions there were in the Eastern Parts, which he prepared vigorously to correct; refolving, as he said, Arch-bifcop to bring matters to that pafs, that the State fhould want no more Soldiers; which Saying of his, with alfo his curbing the diffolute of London manners of the Soldiers, did fo difgust them, that fome of his Army confpired against him, and treacheroully murther'd him. After which yet, they erected for him an honourable Sepulchre, wherein was en- ́ graven this Epitaph: Here lies the Emperor Probus, juftly for his Goodness called Probus A Palladius, Carus, Urelius Carus was chofen by the Soldiers, and confirmed by the Senate. The Murtherers of his Predeceffor Probus he feverely A.D. 286. punished. Carinus his eldest Son he made Governor of Britain, and the Weitern parts, and himfelt with his younger Son Numerianus, prepared for the East against the Perfians; but in his Journey thitherward, as he lay fick in his Bed, a Thunderbolt flew him, with many others then with him in his Tent. The Terror whereof fo difanima ted his whole Army, that they defifted the intended Defign against Perfia; and Numériauus took his Father's Death fo heavily, that with continual Weeping, his Eyes were fo weakened, that he could not endure any Light. From which Difafters, Arrius Aper, in hopes of procuring the Empire to himself, took occafion to work the Death of Numerianus. 288. Ioclefianus, who at the firft was a common Soldier, flew Arrius Aper; which done, he was elected Emperor, and confirmed by Dioclefia the Senate. Valerius Maximianus, for his good Service in vanquishing us and the Gauls, who troubled the Peace of the Empire, he made his Con- Maximiafort in the Government. Thefe Emperors raifed the Tenth Perfecu- nus, A. D. tion, which continued for the term of ten Years fo fierce, that within the pace of one Month feventeen thousand Chriftians were put to Tenth PerDeath, befides infinite numbers of others cruelly handled, though fecation. fuffered to escape with their Lives. And as in other parts of the Empire, fo in Britain, the Churches of the Chriftians were demolifhed, and their Bibles burned, and their Bodies afflicted. St. Alban of the City Verolamium, was beheaded at Holmburft, now called St. Albans. His Inftructor Amphibolus was brought to the fame place, and whipped at a Stake, whereat his Entrails were tyed; fo winding C his Conftan tius Chlo his Entrails cut of his Body, was at laft ftoned to Death. Sundry. others were put to Death in other places and in Litchfield fo many, that the place became another Golgotha; for which caufe that City doth bear for their Seal of Arms a Field charged with many Martyrs. But the chief cause of these Miseries befalling the Chriflians was from the Chriftians themselves: "For (faith Eufebius) after that "our Converfation, through too much Liberty and Licentioufnefs, was degenerated, and holy Difcipline corrupted; whilft every "one of us did envy, bite, and back-bite each other; waging inte"fine Wars, and piercing one another with opprobrious Words 66 whilft nothing but Hypocrifie was in the Face, Deceit in the Heart, "and Guile on the Tongue, whereby mifchief was at the full height, "then began the heavy Hand of God to vifit us, &c. Howbeit, when God had done ufing these his Rods of Correction, he caft them into the Fire. These two Tyrants having renounced the Empire, and being again become private Men, Dioclefian poifoned himfelf, and Maximian hanged himself. C Onftantius Chlorus, and Galerius Maximinus (to whom the two former Emperors had voluntarily refigned up their Sovereignties) rus, A. D. divided the Empire into two parts, Eaft and Weft; Galerius had the 308 Government of the Eailern Divifion, and Conftantius of the Western. Conftantius was wife, valiant, noble, and of a publick Spirit, wholly reigning to inrich his Subjects. He would commonly fay, That it was more profitable for the State, that the whole Wealth of the Land bould be difperfed into the Commons Hands, than to lie locked up in the Prince's Coffers. He was fo averfe to fuperfluity, that upon extraordinary Oce cations he was forced to borrow Plate of his Friends to furnish his Tables and Cup-boards. But his most excelling Vertue was, his countenancing and protecting the late perfecuted Chriftians, making. his Court their Sanctuary. And to winnow the Chaff from the Wheat, he used Jehu's Policy, commanding all his Officers to offer Sacrifice to the Idol Gods, pretending to difcard all fuch as refufed; but on the contrary, thofe that complied, he rejected with this Re flection, That be who is difloyal to his God, will never be faithful to his Pince. Whilft he ferved here in Britain under Aurelian, he married Stephen Helena, the Daughter of Calius or Calius a British Prince, who was Arch bifbep the Worker of his Converfion, and on whom he begat Conftantine the. of London. great in Britain. Whilft he Twayed the Empire, being here in Bri tain, and lately returned from his Expedition against the Pids, which were Northern Britains, who continued to paint themfelves after the Southern parts were brought to more Civility, he fell fick at fork, his imperial Seat. At which time his Son Conftantine cane thither to him; the fight of whom fo rejoyced him, that fetting himself upright in his Bed, he fpake as followeth It now fufficeth, and Death is not fearful, feeing Iball leave my unaccomplished Actions to be performed by thee, my Son, in whofe l'erfon I doubt not but that my Memorial foall be retained, as in a Monument of fucceeding Fame: What I had intended, but by this my fatal Period leave undone, fee thou do it, that is, Govern thy Empire with Fufice, protect the Innocent, and wipe away all Tears from the |