Note:M。Guizotherejustlyobserves，thatitwasthenecessityofsacrificingtothegods，whichinducedMarcellustoactinthismanner。—M。]
AfterthesuccessofthePersianwarhadraisedthehopesandthereputationofGalerius，hepassedawinterwithDiocletianinthepalaceofNicomedia；andthefateofChristianitybecametheobjectoftheirsecretconsultations。
^147Theexperiencedemperorwasstillinclinedtopursuemeasuresoflenity；andthoughhereadilyconsentedtoexcludetheChristiansfromholdinganyemploymentsinthehouseholdorthearmy，heurgedinthestrongesttermsthedangeraswellascrueltyofsheddingthebloodofthosedeludedfanatics。
Galeriusatlengthextorted^!!fromhimthepermissionofsummoningacouncil，composedofafewpersonsthemostdistinguishedinthecivilandmilitarydepartmentsofthestate。
Theimportantquestionwasagitatedintheirpresence，andthoseambitiouscourtierseasilydiscerned，thatitwasincumbentonthemtosecond，bytheireloquence，theimportunateviolenceoftheCaesar。Itmaybepresumed，thattheyinsistedoneverytopicwhichmightinterestthepride，thepiety，orthefears，oftheirsovereigninthedestructionofChristianity。Perhapstheyrepresented，thatthegloriousworkofthedeliveranceoftheempirewasleftimperfect，aslongasanindependentpeoplewaspermittedtosubsistandmultiplyintheheartoftheprovinces。
TheChristians，itmightspeciallybealleged，renouncingthegodsandtheinstitutionsofRome，hadconstitutedadistinctrepublic，whichmightyetbesuppressedbeforeithadacquiredanymilitaryforce；butwhichwasalreadygovernedbyitsownlawsandmagistrates，waspossessedofapublictreasure，andwasintimatelyconnectedinallitspartsbythefrequentassembliesofthebishops，towhosedecreestheirnumerousandopulentcongregationsyieldedanimplicitobedience。ArgumentslikethesemayseemtohavedeterminedthereluctantmindofDiocletiantoembraceanewsystemofpersecution；butthoughwemaysuspect，itisnotinourpowertorelate，thesecretintriguesofthepalace，theprivateviewsandresentments，thejealousyofwomenoreunuchs，andallthosetriflingbutdecisivecauseswhichsoofteninfluencethefateofempires，andthecouncilsofthewisestmonarchs。^148
[Footnote147:DeM。P。c。11。Lactantiusorwhoeverwastheauthorofthislittletreatisewas，atthattime，aninhabitantofNicomedia；butitseemsdifficulttoconceivehowhecouldacquiresoaccurateaknowledgeofwhatpassedintheImperialcabinet。
Note:Lactantius，whowassubsequentlychosenbyConstantinetoeducateCrispus，mighteasilyhavelearnedthesedetailsfromConstantinehimself，alreadyofsufficientagetointeresthimselfintheaffairsofthegovernment，andinapositiontoobtainthebestinformation。—G。
ThisassumesthedoubtfulpointoftheauthorshipoftheTreatise。—M。]
[Footnote!!:ThispermissionwasnotextortedfromDiocletian；
hetookthestepofhisownaccord。Lactantiussays，intruth，NectamendeflecterepotuitDiocletianuspraecipitishominisinsaniam；placuitergoamicorumsententiamexperiri。DeMort。
Pers。c。11。ButthismeasurewasinaccordancewiththeartificialcharacterofDiocletian，whowishedtohavetheappearanceofdoinggoodbyhisownimpulseandevilbytheimpulseofothers。Namerathujusmalitiae，cumbonumquidfaceredecrevissesineconsiliofaciebat，utipselaudaretur。Cumautemmalum。quoniamidreprehendendumsciebat，inconsiliummultosadvocabat，utalioramculpaoadscribereturquicquidipsedeliquerat。Lact。ib。Eutropiussayslikewise，Miratuscallidefuit，sagaxpraetereaetadmodumsubtilisingenio，etquiseveritatemsuamalienainvidiavelletexplere。Eutrop。ix。c。
26。—G。
ThemannerinwhichthecoarseandunfriendlypenciloftheauthoroftheTreatisedeMort。Pers。hasdrawnthecharacterofDiocletian，seemsinconsistentwiththisprofoundsubtilty。ManyreaderswillperhapsagreewithGibbon。—M。]
[Footnote148:Theonlycircumstancewhichwecandiscover，isthedevotionandjealousyofthemotherofGalerius。SheisdescribedbyLactantius，asDeorummontiumcultrix；mulieradmodumsuperstitiosa。Shehadagreatinfluenceoverherson，andwasoffendedbythedisregardofsomeofherChristianservants。
Note:ThisdisregardconsistedintheChristiansfastingandprayinginsteadofparticipatinginthebanquetsandsacrificeswhichshecelebratedwiththePagans。Dapibussacrificabatpoenequotidieacvicariissuisepulisexhibebat。Christianiabstinebant，etillacumgentibusepulante，jejuniishietoratiomibusinsisteban；hineconcepitodiumLactdeHist。Pers。
c。11。—G。]
ThepleasureoftheemperorswasatlengthsignifiedtotheChristians，who，duringthecourseofthismelancholywinter，hadexpected，withanxiety，theresultofsomanysecretconsultations。Thetwenty—thirdofFebruary，whichcoincidedwiththeRomanfestivaloftheTerminalia，^149wasappointedwhetherfromaccidentordesigntosetboundstotheprogressofChristianity。Attheearliestdawnofday，thePraetorianpraefect，^150accompaniedbyseveralgenerals，tribunes，andofficersoftherevenue，repairedtotheprincipalchurchofNicomedia，whichwassituatedonaneminenceinthemostpopulousandbeautifulpartofthecity。Thedoorswereinstantlybrokeopen；theyrushedintothesanctuary；andastheysearchedinvainforsomevisibleobjectofworship，theywereobligedtocontentthemselveswithcommittingtotheflamesthevolumesoftheholyScripture。TheministersofDiocletianwerefollowedbyanumerousbodyofguardsandpioneers，whomarchedinorderofbattle，andwereprovidedwithalltheinstrumentsusedinthedestructionoffortifiedcities。Bytheirincessantlabor，asacrededifice，whichtoweredabovetheImperialpalace，andhadlongexcitedtheindignationandenvyoftheGentiles，wasinafewhourslevelledwiththeground。^151
[Footnote149:TheworshipandfestivalofthegodTerminusareelegantlyillustratedbyM。deBoze，Mem。del\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。i。p。50。]
[Footnote150:InouronlyMS。ofLactantius，wereadprofectus；
butreason，andtheauthorityofallthecritics，allowus，insteadofthatword，whichdestroysthesenseofthepassage，tosubstituteproefectus。]
[Footnote151:Lactantius，deM。P。c。12，givesaverylivelypictureofthedestructionofthechurch。]
Thenextdaythegeneraledictofpersecutionwaspublished；
^152andthoughDiocletian，stillaversetotheeffusionofblood，hadmoderatedthefuryofGalerius，whoproposed，thateveryonerefusingtooffersacrificeshouldimmediatelybeburntalive，thepenaltiesinflictedontheobstinacyoftheChristiansmightbedeemedsufficientlyrigorousandeffectual。Itwasenacted，thattheirchurches，inalltheprovincesoftheempire，shouldbedemolishedtotheirfoundations；andthepunishmentofdeathwasdenouncedagainstallwhoshouldpresumetoholdanysecretassembliesforthepurposeofreligiousworship。Thephilosophers，whonowassumedtheunworthyofficeofdirectingtheblindzealofpersecution，haddiligentlystudiedthenatureandgeniusoftheChristianreligion；andastheywerenotignorantthatthespeculativedoctrinesofthefaithweresupposedtobecontainedinthewritingsoftheprophets，oftheevangelists，andoftheapostles，theymostprobablysuggestedtheorder，thatthebishopsandpresbytersshoulddeliveralltheirsacredbooksintothehandsofthemagistrates；whowerecommanded，undertheseverestpenalties，toburntheminapublicandsolemnmanner。Bythesameedict，thepropertyofthechurchwasatonceconfiscated；andtheseveralpartsofwhichitmightconsistwereeithersoldtothehighestbidder，unitedtotheImperialdomain，bestowedonthecitiesandcorporations，orgrantedtothesolicitationsofrapaciouscourtiers。Aftertakingsucheffectualmeasurestoabolishtheworship，andtodissolvethegovernmentoftheChristians，itwasthoughtnecessarytosubjecttothemostintolerablehardshipstheconditionofthoseperverseindividualswhoshouldstillrejectthereligionofnature，ofRome，andoftheirancestors。Personsofaliberalbirthweredeclaredincapableofholdinganyhonorsoremployments；slaveswereforeverdeprivedofthehopesoffreedom，andthewholebodyofthepeoplewereputoutoftheprotectionofthelaw。ThejudgeswereauthorizedtohearandtodetermineeveryactionthatwasbroughtagainstaChristian。ButtheChristianswerenotpermittedtocomplainofanyinjurywhichtheythemselveshadsuffered；andthusthoseunfortunatesectarieswereexposedtotheseverity，whiletheywereexcludedfromthebenefits，ofpublicjustice。Thisnewspeciesofmartyrdom，sopainfulandlingering，soobscureandignominious，was，perhaps，themostpropertowearytheconstancyofthefaithful:norcanitbedoubtedthatthepassionsandinterestofmankindweredisposedonthisoccasiontosecondthedesignsoftheemperors。Butthepolicyofawell—orderedgovernmentmustsometimeshaveinterposedinbehalfoftheoppressedChristians；
norwasitpossiblefortheRomanprincesentirelytoremovetheapprehensionofpunishment，ortoconniveateveryactoffraudandviolence，withoutexposingtheirownauthorityandtherestoftheirsubjectstothemostalarmingdangers。^153
[Footnote152:Mosheim，p。922—926，frommanscatteredpassagesofLactantiusandEusebius，hascollectedaveryjustandaccuratenotionofthisedictthoughhesometimesdeviatesintoconjectureandrefinement。]
[Footnote*:Thiswantsproof。TheedictofDiocletianwasexecutedinallitsrightduringtherestofhisreign。Euseb。
Hist。Eccl。lviii。c。13。—G。]
[Footnote153:Manyagesafterwards，EdwardJ。practised，withgreatsuccess，thesamemodeofpersecutionagainsttheclergyofEngland。SeeHume\'sHistoryofEngland，vol。ii。p。300，last4toedition。]
Thisedictwasscarcelyexhibitedtothepublicview，inthemostconspicuousplaceofNicomedia，beforeitwastorndownbythehandsofaChristian，whoexpressedatthesametime，bythebitterestinvectives，hiscontemptaswellasabhorrenceforsuchimpiousandtyrannicalgovernors。Hisoffence，accordingtothemildestlaws，amountedtotreason，anddeserveddeath。Andifitbetruethathewasapersonofrankandeducation，thosecircumstancescouldserveonlytoaggravatehisguilt。Hewasburnt，orratherroasted，byaslowfire；andhisexecutioners，zealoustorevengethepersonalinsultwhichhadbeenofferedtotheemperors，exhaustedeveryrefinementofcruelty，withoutbeingabletosubduehispatience，ortoalterthesteadyandinsultingsmilewhichinhisdyingagonieshestillpreservedinhiscountenance。TheChristians，thoughtheyconfessedthathisconducthadnotbeenstrictlyconformabletothelawsofprudence，admiredthedivinefervorofhiszeal；andtheexcessivecommendationswhichtheylavishedonthememoryoftheirheroandmartyr，contributedtofixadeepimpressionofterrorandhatredinthemindofDiocletian。^154
[Footnote154:Lactantiusonlycallshimquidam，etsinonrecte，magnotameranimo，&c。，c。12。Eusebiusl。viii。c。5adornshimwithsecularhonoraNeitherhavecondescendedtomentionhisname；buttheGreekscelebratehismemoryunderthatofJohn。
SeeTillemont，MemonesEcclesiastiques，tom。v。partii。p。320。]
Hisfearsweresoonalarmedbytheviewofadangerfromwhichheverynarrowlyescaped。WithinfifteendaysthepalaceofNicomedia，andeventhebed—chamberofDiocletian，weretwiceinflames；andthoughbothtimestheywereextinguishedwithoutanymaterialdamage，thesingularrepetitionofthefirewasjustlyconsideredasanevidentproofthatithadnotbeentheeffectofchanceornegligence。ThesuspicionnaturallyfellontheChristians；anditwassuggested，withsomedegreeofprobability，thatthosedesperatefanatics，provokedbytheirpresentsufferings，andapprehensiveofimpendingcalamities，hadenteredintoaconspiracywiththeirfaithfulbrethren，theeunuchsofthepalace，againstthelivesoftwoemperors，whomtheydetestedastheirreconcilableenemiesofthechurchofGod。
Jealousyandresentmentprevailedineverybreast，butespeciallyinthatofDiocletian。Agreatnumberofpersons，distinguishedeitherbytheofficeswhichtheyhadfilled，orbythefavorwhichtheyhadenjoyed，werethrownintoprison。Everymodeoftorturewasputinpractice，andthecourt，aswellascity，waspollutedwithmanybloodyexecutions。^155Butasitwasfoundimpossibletoextortanydiscoveryofthismysterioustransaction，itseemsincumbentonuseithertopresumetheinnocence，ortoadmiretheresolution，ofthesufferers。AfewdaysafterwardsGaleriushastilywithdrewhimselffromNicomedia，declaring，thatifhedelayedhisdeparturefromthatdevotedpalace，heshouldfallasacrificetotherageoftheChristians。
Theecclesiasticalhistorians，fromwhomalonewederiveapartialandimperfectknowledgeofthispersecution，areatalosshowtoaccountforthefearsanddangersoftheemperors。
Twoofthesewriters，aprinceandarhetorician，wereeye—
witnessesofthefireofNicomedia。Theoneascribesittolightning，andthedivinewrath；theotheraffirms，thatitwaskindledbythemaliceofGaleriushimself。^156
[Footnote155:LactantiusdeM。P。c。13，14。PotentissimiquondamEunuchinecati，perquosPalatiumetipseconstabat。
Eusebiusl。viii。c。6mentionsthecruelexecutionsoftheeunuchs，GorgoniusandDorotheus，andofAnthimius，bishopofNicomedia；andboththosewritersdescribe，inavaguebuttragicalmanner，thehorridsceneswhichwereactedevenintheImperialpresence。]
[Footnote156:SeeLactantius，Eusebius，andConstantine，adCoetumSanctorum，c。xxv。Eusebiusconfesseshisignoranceofthecauseofthisfire。
Note:AsthehistoryofthesetimesaffordsusnoexampleofanyattemptsmadebytheChristiansagainsttheirpersecutors，wehavenoreason，nottheslightestprobability，toattributetothemthefireinthepalace；andtheauthorityofConstantineandLactantiusremainstoexplainit。M。deTillemonthasshownhowtheycanbereconciled。Hist。desEmpereurs，ViedeDiocletian，xix。—G。HaditbeendonebyaChristian，itwouldprobablyhavebeenafanatic，whowouldhaveavowedandgloriedinit。
Tillemont\'ssuppositionthatthefirewasfirstcausedbylightning，andfedandincreasedbythemaliceofGalerius，seemssingularlyimprobable。—M。]
AstheedictagainsttheChristianswasdesignedforagenerallawofthewholeempire，andasDiocletianandGalerius，thoughtheymightnotwaitfortheconsent，wereassuredoftheconcurrence，oftheWesternprinces，itwouldappearmoreconsonanttoourideasofpolicy，thatthegovernorsofalltheprovincesshouldhavereceivedsecretinstructionstopublish，ononeandthesameday，thisdeclarationofwarwithintheirrespectivedepartments。Itwasatleasttobeexpected，thattheconvenienceofthepublichighwaysandestablishedpostswouldhaveenabledtheemperorstotransmittheirorderswiththeutmostdespatchfromthepalaceofNicomediatotheextremitiesoftheRomanworld；andthattheywouldnothavesufferedfiftydaystoelapse，beforetheedictwaspublishedinSyria，andnearfourmonthsbeforeitwassignifiedtothecitiesofAfrica。^157
ThisdelaymayperhapsbeimputedtothecautioustemperofDiocletian，whohadyieldedareluctantconsenttothemeasuresofpersecution，andwhowasdesirousoftryingtheexperimentunderhismoreimmediateeye，beforehegavewaytothedisordersanddiscontentwhichitmustinevitablyoccasioninthedistantprovinces。Atfirst，indeed，themagistrateswererestrainedfromtheeffusionofblood；buttheuseofeveryotherseveritywaspermitted，andevenrecommendedtotheirzeal；norcouldtheChristians，thoughtheycheerfullyresignedtheornamentsoftheirchurches，resolvetointerrupttheirreligiousassemblies，ortodelivertheirsacredbookstotheflames。ThepiousobstinacyofFelix，anAfricanbishop，appearstohaveembarrassedthesubordinateministersofthegovernment。Thecuratorofhiscitysenthiminchainstotheproconsul。TheproconsultransmittedhimtothePraetorianpraefectofItaly；
andFelix，whodisdainedeventogiveanevasiveanswer，wasatlengthbeheadedatVenusia，inLucania，aplaceonwhichthebirthofHoracehasconferredfame。^158Thisprecedent，andperhapssomeImperialrescript，whichwasissuedinconsequenceofit，appearedtoauthorizethegovernorsofprovinces，inpunishingwithdeaththerefusaloftheChristianstodeliveruptheirsacredbooks。Therewereundoubtedlymanypersonswhoembracedthisopportunityofobtainingthecrownofmartyrdom；
buttherewerelikewisetoomanywhopurchasedanignominiouslife，bydiscoveringandbetrayingtheholyScriptureintothehandsofinfidels。Agreatnumberevenofbishopsandpresbytersacquired，bythiscriminalcompliance，theopprobriousepithetofTraditors；andtheiroffencewasproductiveofmuchpresentscandalandofmuchfuturediscordintheAfricanchurch。^159
[Footnote157:Tillemont，MemoiresEcclesiast。tom。v。parti。p。
43。]
[Footnote158:SeetheActaSinceraofRuinart，p。353；thoseofFelixofThibara，orTibiur，appearmuchlesscorruptedthanintheothereditions，whichaffordalivelyspecimenoflegendarylicense。]
[Footnote159:SeethefirstbookofOptatusofMilevisagainsttheDonatiste，Paris，1700，edit。Dupin。HelivedunderthereignofValens。]
ThecopiesaswellastheversionsofScripture，werealreadysomultipliedintheempire，thatthemostsevereinquisitioncouldnolongerbeattendedwithanyfatalconsequences；andeventhesacrificeofthosevolumes，which，ineverycongregation，werepreservedforpublicuse，requiredtheconsentofsometreacherousandunworthyChristians。Buttheruinofthechurcheswaseasilyeffectedbytheauthorityofthegovernment，andbythelaborofthePagans。Insomeprovinces，however，themagistratescontentedthemselveswithshuttinguptheplacesofreligiousworship。Inothers，theymoreliterallycompliedwiththetermsoftheedict；andaftertakingawaythedoors，thebenches，andthepulpit，whichtheyburntasitwereinafuneralpile，theycompletelydemolishedtheremainderoftheedifice。^160Itisperhapstothismelancholyoccasionthatweshouldapplyaveryremarkablestory，whichisrelatedwithsomanycircumstancesofvarietyandimprobability，thatitservesrathertoexcitethantosatisfyourcuriosity。InasmalltowninPhrygia，ofwhosenamesaswellassituationweareleftignorant，itshouldseemthatthemagistratesandthebodyofthepeoplehadembracedtheChristianfaith；andassomeresistancemightbeapprehendedtotheexecutionoftheedict，thegovernoroftheprovincewassupportedbyanumerousdetachmentoflegionaries。Ontheirapproachthecitizensthrewthemselvesintothechurch，withtheresolutioneitherofdefendingbyarmsthatsacrededifice，orofperishinginitsruins。Theyindignantlyrejectedthenoticeandpermissionwhichwasgiventhemtoretire，tillthesoldiers，provokedbytheirobstinaterefusal，setfiretothebuildingonallsides，andconsumed，bythisextraordinarykindofmartyrdom，agreatnumberofPhrygians，withtheirwivesandchildren。^161
[Footnote160:Theancientmonuments，publishedattheendofOptatus，p。261，&c。describe，inaverycircumstantialmanner，theproceedingsofthegovernorsinthedestructionofchurches。