•…•…ict. But this Antonine that caused the forth persecution was the Philosopher who ru∣•…•… with Antonius ver•…•…s: In this persecution were Policarpe and Pionius martyred in Asia: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 many in France, whose sufferings are left recorded. Iustine martir also suffred at this time 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lib. 4. Hist. Eccl. (d) The fift by Se•…•…eus.] He had good fortune to become Emperor, for hee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an African, a fierce and bloudy fellow. He forbad Christianity vpon a deadly penalty. (Ael. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.) and plagued the Christians all Egypt ouer, chiefely in Thebais. Euseb. Eccl. Hist. lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Alexander Bishop of Hieusalem was martyred at this time. (e) The s•…•…t.] Maximinus was a •…•…ian borne, his father a Goth, his mother a Scythian: barbarous in descent, body and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. His strength preferd him from a common soldior to a commander. And Alexander M•…•…ea her sonne being killed, the soldiours made him Emperor. He was most proud and •…•…ll. He persecuted the priests, as the especiall causers of christianity Euse. (f) By Decius.] •…•…e in Bubalia, a part of the lower Pannonia. He foyled Philip the Emperor in a ciuill fight, and he then succeded in his place: hating the Christians so much more because Phillip fauo∣red them, and putting them to exquisite torments: S. Laurence, he broyled. Eutrop. Yet ruled he but one yeare, what would he haue done had he continued? Fabian also the Bishop of Rome was martyred vnder him. (g) By Valerian.] Who was crowned three yeares after Decius He was most vnfortunate: for Sapor King of Persia tooke him in fight, and made him his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to mount his horse by. Galien and he were ioynt Emperors, vnder whome the Empire 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greatly to decay: no maruell, being both deiected, sluggish lvmpes. In this persecution 〈◊〉〈◊〉 S. Cyprian Bishop of Carthage martired. (h) By Aurelian.] Third Emperor after Galien. A D•…•…e; very fortunat in warre, but bloudy and Barbarous, fit for an Empire, and for nothing else▪ hated, (and so slayne) by his owne friends, who killed him as he went from Byzance to Herculea. (i) Diocletian.] Sonne to Salon, a dalmatian, he aspired to the Empire by the con∣tentions of others, and ioyned Maximianus Herculeus with him, the better to withstand the •…•…ent warre. Hee was suttle, and cruell, and could easily lay his butcheries on anothers 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Maximian was Barbarous, and brutish euen in Aspect, and serued for Diocletians hang∣•…•…, who grew to such pride that he commanded him-selfe to be adored as a God, and that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 should be kissed, whereas before, they vsed but to kisse their hands: he presecuted 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Church and on Easter-weeke, the ninteenth yeare of his raigne, commanded all the Chur∣ches to be pulled downe, and the Christians to bee killed. Decius his persecution was the greatest, but this was the bloudiest. (k) The Plagues of Egipt.] This is Orosius his opinion. lib. 7.
(l) Herod.] His sonne vnder whome Christ was borne. (m) Iulian.] The Apostata, first a Christian, and after-wards an Atheist. He shed no Christian bloud, but vsed wounderfull 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to draw men from Christ: a bitter kind of persecution, taking more hearts from God by that one meanes, then all the violence before had done. (n) Forbad to teach the liberall 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪] His edict was torne in peeces by S. Iohn. There was one Prohaeresius a Sophister of Caesarea, who comming to Athens was receiued with great applause of the people, to whome he made an extemporall oration in a frequent audience. Iulian allowed leaue onely vnto him to teach the Christians: but the learned man hating that Barbarous edict, forsooke the towne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 scholers, to the great greefe of the students. (o) Ualentinian.] An Hungarian, captaine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…gatyers, and saluted Emperor by the soldiours. Being a Christian vnder Iulian, he was commanded either to sacrifice vnto the Idols or to resigne his place, which hee resigned wil∣•…•…, and soone after Iulian being slaine, and Iouinian dead, he reigned Emperor, receiuing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for his captaine-ship that he had lost for Christs sake. Eutrop. His sonne, Ualentinian the younger ruled first with Gratian and then with Theodosius the great. (p) At Antioche.] Iulian 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Christians remoue the tombe of the martire Babylas to some other place, so they went 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it singing the Psalme When Israel went out of &c. Which Iulian hearing was vexed, & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 diuers of them to be put to torments. Salustius was he that had the charge, who tooke a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man called Theodorus, and put him to most intollerable torments, yet he neuer mo∣•…•…▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with a ioyfull countenance continually sung the Psalme that the Church sung the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which Salust seeing, hee returned him to prison, and went to Iulian, telling 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hee tortured any more of them, it would redownd to their glory and his shame▪ •…•…-vpon hee ceased. Eusebius saith that him-selfe talked with this Theodorus at Antioch 〈◊〉〈◊〉 asked him if hee felt no payne; who told him no: for there stood a young-man behind