CAP. IX.* 1.1
Howe Valerianus raysed persecution against the Christians.
THey that ruled the empire with Gallus, enioyed it not full two yeares, but were depri∣ued* 1.2 of this lyfe: And Valerianus together with his sonne Galienus succeedeth in the Em∣pire. What Dionysius wrote of him, it may be gathered by his epistle vnto Hermammon, where he sayeth: * 1.3 It vvas reuealed vnto Iohn, for a mouth vvas gyuen vnto him (sayeth he) to vtter proude speaches and blasphemyes, and povver vvas gyuen him and monethes fortie tvvo. Both thinges are vvonderfull in Valerianus, and vve haue to consider hovve that aboue all his predecessours he vvas disposed at the firste, gentle tovvardes all the men of God, meeke and friendly minded. For there vvas none of al the emperours before him so curteous and frendly af∣fected tovvards them, no not they vvhich openly vvere counted Christians: he at the firste em∣braced our men most familiarly, moste louingly, & that openly: so that his palace vvas repleni∣shed vvith professors of the fayth, and accompted for the churche of God. But the maister & ru∣ler of the Aegyptian sorcerers synagoge, persvvaded him aftervvard to slaye and persecute those syncere men and sainctes of God, as aduersaries and impugners of their moste impure, and de∣testable sorceries (for the godlye then preuayled so muche, and preuayle at this daye, that beyng present and vvith their countenance only blovving the contrarie, and resisting as it vvote vvith a little speache, scattered the bevvitchings of those detestable deuils) he brought to passe impure ceremonies, execrable inchauntmēts, and abhominable sacrifices: he made a slaughter of miserable children: he sacrificed the sonnes of infortunate parents: he searched the bovvels of the nevvly borne babes, spoyling & rentinge asunder the shaped creatures of God, as if by such haynous offences he should become fortunate. Againe after a fewe lines he saith: Macrinus offe red vp vnto them gratulatorie gyftes & presents for good lucke of the hoped empire. For before it vvas commonly blased he should be created Emperour, he respected not the consonancie of reason, neither the publique or common affaires, but vvas subiect vnto the curse of the prophet sayinge: VVo be vnto them vvhich prophecie after their ovvne hartes desyre, and respect not the publique profitte. He vnderstoode not the vniuersall prouidence and vvisdome of him vvhiche is before all, in all, and aboue all. VVerefore he is become a deadlye foe vnto the catholique and Christian fayth. He outlavved and banyshed him selfe from the mercye of* 1.4 God: and as he fledde farthest from the churche, so hath he aunsvvered the etymologie of his name. Agayne he sayeth: Valerianus vvas by his meanes dryuen and gyuen ouer vnto suche reprochefulnesse and abhominations, that the sayinge of Esaye vvas verified in him. And they (sayeth he) chose theyr ovvne vvayes and abhominations vvhiche their soules lusted after, and I vvyll selecte them theyr ovvne illusions, and recompence them theyr ovvne sinnes. This Emperoure vvas madd, and dotynge ouer the empire othervvyse then became his maiestie, not able by reason of his maymed bodye to vveare the emperiall robes, brought forth tvvo sonnes follovvers of the fathers impietie. In them vvas that prophecye manifest,