still made denyall, in certaine privat and secret papers produced from his house, there was found a Memorandum written with Hymetius his owne hand, reque∣sting him out of his art and learning, by the rites and ceremonies of some solemne sacrifices, to pray unto the divine power of the Emperour, and to procure the fa∣vour of his sacred Majestie toward him: in the utmost part of which writing there was read a certaine invective against the said Emperour, as being a covetous and cruell Prince. Valentinian advertised hereof, by relation of some informers, who made construction of all things that were done in the worst sense, commaunded there should be inquisition made into this businesse in most rigorous maner. And for that Frontinus a practiser with Amantius abovesaid, was charged to have beene the minister of that forme of prayer which was made, when he had been well tew∣ed with rods, and compelled to confesse, he was banished into Britaine: but Aman∣tius condemned afterwards for capitall matters suffered death. After these affairs in this order passed, Hymetius being brought to the towne O criculum, to have his cause heard, by Ampelius Prefect of the citie, and Maximinus vice Prefect, and like (as it seemed) presently to be put away, when he had libertie graunted to speake, tooke the better course, and appealed for succour to the Emperour, and so prote∣cted under the safeguard of his name, was kept in ward safe. And the Princes plea∣sure being asked, What should be done with him? hee committed the managing of this cause unto the Senat. Who finding by the equall ballance of justice how the case stood, and thereupon confining him to Boae, a place in Dalmatia, could hardly endure the Emperours wrath, who chafed mightily when hee understood, that a man destined (as himselfe intended) to death, had his punishment by a mil∣der sentence. For these and many such like examples, the daungers seene in a few, men begun to feare would light upon them. And least, if so many enormities be∣ing winked at, and creeping on still by little and little, there might grow whole heapes of miseries, by vertue of a decree passed by the Nobilitie, embassadors were dispatched unto the Emperour, by name Pretextatus who had beene Prefect of the citie, Venustus sometime deputie-Prefect, and Minervius late a Consular Governor of a Province, with this supplication, That there should not bee inflicted punish∣ment more grievous than the offences required; and that no Senatour (after an un∣exampled and unlawfull manner) might be exposed unto tortures. Who being admitted into the Consistorie, when they made report of these particulars afore∣said; as Valentinian denied that ever he ordained such a course, and cryed out, that he was traduced and sustained abuse, Eupraxius the Questor in modest tearmes re∣proved him for it. By whose libertie of speech, that cruell proceeding thus begun, which exceeded all precedents of rigour, was reformed. About this time Lollianus a young gentleman, in the verie prime of his youth, the sonne of Lampadius, who had beene Prefect, being by Maximinus, who looked narrowly into his cause, con∣victed to have copied forth a booke of divelish arts (when by reason of yong yeres his head was not well stayed) and upon the point to be sent into exile (as it was fea∣red) at the motion and instigation of his father appealed to the Emperour. And be∣ing commaunded to be led from thence unto his Counsell, which was (as they say) out of the smoke in the flame, was delivered over to Phalangius the governour of the province Baetica, and lost his life by the hangmans hand. Over and besides these, Taratius Bassus, afterwards Prefect of the citie, and his brother Camenius, like∣wise one Marcianus and Eusaphius, all noble persons, and of Senators degree, were brought into question, and had their triall: for that as privie all to one and the same