Status ecclesiæ gallicanæ, or, The ecclesiastical history of France from the first plantation of Christianity there, unto this time, describing the most notable church-matters : the several councils holden in France, with their principal canons : the most famous men, and most learned writers, and the books they have written, with many eminent French popes, cardinals, prelates, pastours, and lawyers : a description of their universities with their founders : an impartial account of the state of the Reformed chuches in France and the civil wars there for religion : with an exact succession of the French Kings / by the authour of the late history of the church of Great Britain.

Century III.

AFter the Death of the Emperour Commodus, Reigned Pertinax but few months, after whom succeeded Septimius Severus, under whom was raised a notable Persecution against the Christians. Great Persecution was stirred up on every side, whereby an infinite number of Martyrs were slain, as Eusebius reporteth.

Vincentius speaketh of one Andoclus, whom Polycarpus before had sent into France; which Andoclus, because he spread there the Do∣ctrine of Christ, was apprehended of Severus, and first beaten with staves, and after was beheaded.

About the same time died Irenaeus, Henry of Erford, Ado, and other Martyr-writers do hold, That he was martyred with many more for the Confession and Doctrine of Christ, about the fourth or fifth year of Se∣verus. This Irenaeus, as he was a great Writer, so was he greatly com∣mended of Tertullian for his Learning, whom he calleth, Omnium do∣ctrinarum curiosissimum exploratorem, a great searcher of all kind of learn∣ing. In the time of this Irenaeus, the state of the Church was much troubled, not only for the outward persecution of the foreign enemy, but also for divers Sects and Errours then stirring, against which he di∣ligently laboured, and wrote much, although but few Books be now remaining.

Calixtus succeeded Zepherinus Bishop of Rome, and after him Ʋr∣banus, which both (as some Writers affirm) did suffer under the Em∣perour Alexander Severus: This Calixtus in his two decretal Epistles written to Benedictus, and to the Bishops of France, giveth forth divers Ordinances concerning the Bishops and Ministers of the Church. Vin∣centius affirmeth, that Calixtus was tied to a great stone, and so out of a window was thrown into a ditch.

Under the Emperour Decius (as Gregory of Tours observeth) Gra∣tian came to Tours to preach the Gospel among the Pagans, Anno Chri∣sti 252. Saturninus preached at Tholouse, and was the first Bishop of that place. Dionysius also came to Paris, where he was Bishop, and suffered Martyrdom: This is he who is falsly named Dionysius, or De∣nis the Areopagite. Saturninus also was thrown down from the Ca∣pitol of Tholouse: Rusticus and Eleutherius also there suffered Mar∣tyrdom.

The Author of St. Omer's Life relateth, that Fuscianus and Victori∣nus the Companions of Dionysius preached at the same time the Faith of Christ. That St. Quintin did the same among the Ambianians, and suffered Martyrdom.

Aurelius Probus being invested with the Empire, Anno 276. went into France where he regained sixty Towns out of the Barbarians hands, and killed of them near seventy thousand. Having quieted all things in France, he went into Sclavonia, and overcame the Nations in Scythia: And being gone thence into the East, he gave battel to the Persians, and having overcome them, and taken some of their Cities, as he was returning to Italy, passing through Sclavonia, he was killed at Sirmium by the Soldiers, Anno 282.

M. Aurelius Carus, born at Narbon in France, succeeded Probus, who soon after Created his Sons Carinus and Numerianus Caesars: And having sent Carinus into France, to keep it in peace, he with his Son Numerianus went against the Persians; there, having overcome Meso∣potamia, he was strucken dead by a Thunderbolt. Numerianus was slain by the conspiracy of Aper his Father in Law. Carinus was slain by a

Tribune, whose Wife he had defloured: Dioclesian succeeded him.

Dioclesian upon his Establishment, associated unto him Maximianus Hercules in the Government of the Empire, and they both chose Con∣stantius Chlorus and Galerius to be their Colleagues, and they were Created Caesars.

In the time before the Tenth Persecution, the Church of Christ hav∣ing had above forty years of outward rest and peace through the con∣nivance and indulgence of some Emperours (viz. from the death of Valerian until the nineteenth year of Dioclesian) this prosperity being abused by the Clergy, and other Christians unto idleness, contentions, &c. moved the Lord to scourge them; whereupon followed that sharp and cruel Persecution under Dioclesian: Maximianus in the West, and Dioclesian in the East bent all their Forces to root out the profession of Christian Religion; Dioclesian endeavoured to destroy all the Churches and Temples of the Christians, that they might not Assemble together to Pray, and to use Divine Service; he burnt all the Books he could get of the Holy Scripture, and would not permit any man if he were a Christian to hold any Office or Magistracy: The Soldiers being Chri∣stians, which would not renounce their Faith, he cashiered, and depri∣ved of all military honour, and some of their lives. Many of the Bi∣shops were plundered, slain and martyred. Great Cruelties were exer∣cised against the Christians in Egypt, Syria, Phrygia, and in other parts, Vincentius saith, That at Triers (which is a City situated by the River Mosella) one Bietionarius exercised so great cruelty, that the River was red with the blood of the Christians that were slain. In France like∣wise he sent Posts up and down hither and thither with Decrees, and express Commissions to this end, that in whatsoever place any Chri∣stian was found, he should presently be put to death.

But these two bloody Emperours, seeing the number of the Chri∣stians rather to encrease than to diminish, notwithstanding all the cru∣elty that they could shew, and having now (as it were) their fill of blood, they ceased at last of their own accord to put any more Chri∣stians to death; and finding themselves not able to destroy the Church, they gave over the Empire, and became private men.

Constantius Chlorus, and Maximinus Galerius succeeded in the Em∣pire. Constantius parted the Empire with Galerius, and would Rule but in Britain, Spain and France. Galerius chose to him his two Sons, Maximinus and Severus; and Constantius took Constantine his Son Cae∣sar under him. Constantius was a great supporter of the Christians; And when in the other Jurisdictions of the Empire the Congregations of the Christians were molested with Persecutions, Constantius gave li∣berty to the Christians.

Notes

• Vincent, Lib. 11. cap. 6. Ex Martyrol.
• Gregor. Turo∣nens. Hist. Lib. 5.
• Vincent in Spe∣cul. Lib. 12.