* 1.1VII. CHAP.
1. Diocletian stiled Britannicus.
2. He makes Maximianus his partner in the Empire.
3 4 5. A most furious Persecution rais'd by them against the Christian Church. Brittish Martyrs.
1. THere is extant an ancient Inscription, recited by Baronius, and dated the second year of Diocletians raign,* 1.2 wherin among other Titles he is stiled Britanni∣cus, which imports some victory gained by him, or his Lieutenant in the Island. Certain it is that though Carinus was not slain till the year following, yet at this time Britta∣ny and the Western regions of the Empire, following the example of Rome, had sub∣mitted to Diocletian, deserting Carinus.
2. Who being slain the year following at Murgum,* 1.3 Diocletian assum'd as Companion to himself in the Empire M. Valerius Maxi∣mianus, committing to him the government of Gaule, Brittany, &c. These two Emperours, of which Diocletian from Iupiter took the Sirname of Ioviu••, as Maximianus from Her∣cules did that of Herculius, at the beginning of their raign conspired in a resolution to be the Defende••s of their Pagan Gods, and pro∣fes'd enemies of Christ, whose Religion they intended wholly to extirpate out of the World.
3. Certainly there was never given a stronger proof that Gods Church is built upon a Rock, impossible to be shaken by human force, then the unsuccesfullnes of the rage of these two Emperours against it. They had the whole power of the world in their hands, they were Princes of eminent valour, wise∣dom and policy, above twenty years they governed the Empire, and employed all that time, without any relaxation, in executing their rage against Christ and his truth, they omitted no manner of tentations, by fa∣vours and terrours, to withdraw his ser∣vants from their Worship of him, all mens witts were exercised in devising the most exquisite torments against them, not only magistrates, but private persons were arm'd to destroy them, they were not only execu∣ted and tortur'd singly one by one, but whole armies of them were butcher'd toge∣ther, and the most effectuall means to ob∣tain the Emperours favour or pardon for the greatest crimes, was the heaping of all dis∣graces and unjust violences upon poor Christians. Yet with all this, Christian Re∣ligion was so far from being destroyed, that the Emperours cruelty and injustice gain'd more soules to Christ, then the Sermons and exhortations of devout Preachers could doe in time of peace: insomuch as these two Princes, though vainglorious and ambitious beyond any of their predecessours, seeing all their endeavours against Christ to prove fruitles, out of rage and despair voluntarily depos'd themselves from the government of the world, which they had undertaken principally in design against Christ.
5. One notable proof of the supereminent cruelty of these two Emperours against the Professours of the name of Christ was this, that the Isle of Brittany divided from the Ro∣man world, which in former persecuting Emperours times had been exempted from participating with the suffrings of other Nations, was now made a scene of blood: Yea it may truly be affirmed that Brittany was the first Province dignified by our Sa∣viour to become the Theater on which those glorious Champions S. Albanus, S. Amphi∣balus, S. Iulius, S. Aaron and their Associats afforded to other Christians a blessed exam∣ple of conquering the world and hell it self by Faith and patience: Of whose Gests and suffrings, the proper subject of this Hi∣story, we shall consequently treat: premi∣sing notwithstanding sufficient proofs, that these holy Martyrs were the first who in the beginning of Diocletian and Maximian's raign, dedicated their cruelty.