Theymadeaminuteinventoryoftheplate，&c。，whichtheyfoundinthem。ThatofthechurchofCirta，inNumidia，isstillextant。Itconsistedoftwochalicesofgold，andsixofsilver；
sixurns，onekettle，sevenlamps，alllikewiseofsilver；
besidesalargequantityofbrassutensils，andwearingapparel。]
[Footnote161:LactantiusInstitut。Divin。v。11confinesthecalamitytotheconventiculum，withitscongregation。Eusebiusviii。11extendsittoawholecity，andintroducessomethingverylikearegularsiege。HisancientLatintranslator，Rufinus，addstheimportantcircumstanceofthepermissiongiventotheinhabitantsofretiringfromthence。AsPhrygiareachedtotheconfinesofIsauria，itispossiblethattherestlesstemperofthoseindependentbarbariansmayhavecontributedtothismisfortune。
Note:Universumpopulum。Lact。Inst。Div。v。11。—G。]
Someslightdisturbances，thoughtheyweresuppressedalmostassoonasexcited，inSyriaandthefrontiersofArmenia，affordedtheenemiesofthechurchaveryplausibleoccasiontoinsinuate，thatthosetroubleshadbeensecretlyfomentedbytheintriguesofthebishops，whohadalreadyforgottentheirostentatiousprofessionsofpassiveandunlimitedobedience。^162
Theresentment，orthefears，ofDiocletian，atlengthtransportedhimbeyondtheboundsofmoderation，whichhehadhithertopreserved，andhedeclared，inaseriesofcrueledicts，^!hisintentionofabolishingtheChristianname。Bythefirstoftheseedicts，thegovernorsoftheprovincesweredirectedtoapprehendallpersonsoftheecclesiasticalorder；andtheprisons，destinedforthevilestcriminals，weresoonfilledwithamultitudeofbishops，presbyters，deacons，readers，andexorcists。Byasecondedict，themagistrateswerecommandedtoemployeverymethodofseverity，whichmightreclaimthemfromtheirodioussuperstition，andobligethemtoreturntotheestablishedworshipofthegods。Thisrigorousorderwasextended，byasubsequentedict，tothewholebodyofChristians，whowereexposedtoaviolentandgeneralpersecution。^163
Insteadofthosesalutaryrestraints，whichhadrequiredthedirectandsolemntestimonyofanaccuser，itbecamethedutyaswellastheinterestoftheImperialofficerstodiscover，topursue，andtotormentthemostobnoxiousamongthefaithful。
Heavypenaltiesweredenouncedagainstallwhoshouldpresumetosaveaprescribedsectaryfromthejustindignationofthegods，andoftheemperors。Yet，notwithstandingtheseverityofthislaw，thevirtuouscourageofmanyofthePagans，inconcealingtheirfriendsorrelations，affordsanhonorableproof，thattherageofsuperstitionhadnotextinguishedintheirmindsthesentimentsofnatureandhumanity。^164
[Footnote162:Eusebius，l。viii。c。6。M。deValoiswithsomeprobabilitythinksthathehasdiscoveredtheSyrianrebellioninanorationofLibanius；andthatitwasarashattemptofthetribuneEugenius，whowithonlyfivehundredmenseizedAntioch，andmightperhapsalluretheChristiansbythepromiseofreligioustoleration。FromEusebius，l。ix。c。8，aswellasfromMosesofChorene，Hist。Armen。l。ii。77，&c。，itmaybeinferred，thatChristianitywasalreadyintroducedintoArmenia。]
[Footnote!:Hehadalreadypassedtheminhisfirstedict。Itdoesnotappearthatresentmentorfearhadanyshareinthenewpersecutions:perhapstheyoriginatedinsuperstition，andaspeciousapparentrespectforitsministers。TheoracleofApollo，consultedbyDiocletian，gavenoanswer；andsaidthatjustmenhindereditfromspeaking。Constantine，whoassistedattheceremony，affirms，withanoath，thatwhenquestionedaboutthesemen，thehighpriestnamedtheChristians。\"TheEmperoreagerlyseizedonthisanswer；anddrewagainsttheinnocentasword，destinedonlytopunishtheguilty:heinstantlyissuededicts，written，ifImayusetheexpression，withaponiard；andorderedthejudgestoemployalltheirskilltoinventnewmodesofpunishment。Euseb。VitConstant。l。iic54。\"—G。]
[Footnote163:SeeMosheim，p。938:thetextofEusebiusveryplainlyshowsthatthegovernors，whosepowerswereenlarged，notrestrained，bythenewlaws，couldpunishwithdeaththemostobstinateChristiansasanexampletotheirbrethren。]
[Footnote164:Athanasius，p。833，ap。Tillemont，Mem。
Ecclesiast。tomvparti。90。]
ChapterXVI:ConductTowardsTheChristians，FromNeroToConstantine。
PartVII。
DiocletianhadnosoonerpublishedhisedictsagainsttheChristians，than，asifhehadbeendesirousofcommittingtootherhandstheworkofpersecution，hedivestedhimselfoftheImperialpurple。Thecharacterandsituationofhiscolleaguesandsuccessorssometimesurgedthemtoenforceandsometimesinclinedthemtosuspend，theexecutionoftheserigorouslaws；
norcanweacquireajustanddistinctideaofthisimportantperiodofecclesiasticalhistory，unlessweseparatelyconsiderthestateofChristianity，inthedifferentpartsoftheempire，duringthespaceoftenyears，whichelapsedbetweenthefirstedictsofDiocletianandthefinalpeaceofthechurch。
ThemildandhumanetemperofConstantiuswasaversetotheoppressionofanypartofhissubjects。TheprincipalofficesofhispalacewereexercisedbyChristians。Helovedtheirpersons，esteemedtheirfidelity，andentertainednotanydisliketotheirreligiousprinciples。ButaslongasConstantiusremainedinthesubordinatestationofCaesar，itwasnotinhispoweropenlytorejecttheedictsofDiocletian，ortodisobeythecommandsofMaximian。Hisauthoritycontributed，however，toalleviatethesufferingswhichhepitiedandabhorred。Heconsentedwithreluctancetotheruinofthechurches；butheventuredtoprotecttheChristiansthemselvesfromthefuryofthepopulace，andfromtherigorofthelaws。TheprovincesofGaulunderwhichwemayprobablyincludethoseofBritainwereindebtedforthesingulartranquillitywhichtheyenjoyed，tothegentleinterpositionoftheirsovereign。^165ButDatianus，thepresidentorgovernorofSpain，actuatedeitherbyzealorpolicy，choserathertoexecutethepublicedictsoftheemperors，thantounderstandthesecretintentionsofConstantius；anditcanscarcelybedoubted，thathisprovincialadministrationwasstainedwiththebloodofafewmartyrs。^166
TheelevationofConstantiustothesupremeandindependentdignityofAugustus，gaveafreescopetotheexerciseofhisvirtues，andtheshortnessofhisreigndidnotpreventhimfromestablishingasystemoftoleration，ofwhichheleftthepreceptandtheexampletohissonConstantine。Hisfortunateson，fromthefirstmomentofhisaccession，declaringhimselftheprotectorofthechurch，atlengthdeservedtheappellationofthefirstemperorwhopubliclyprofessedandestablishedtheChristianreligion。Themotivesofhisconversion，astheymayvariouslybededucedfrombenevolence，frompolicy，fromconviction，orfromremorse，andtheprogressoftherevolution，which，underhispowerfulinfluenceandthatofhissons，renderedChristianitythereigningreligionoftheRomanempire，willformaveryinterestingandimportantchapterinthepresentvolumeofthishistory。Atpresentitmaybesufficienttoobserve，thateveryvictoryofConstantinewasproductiveofsomerelieforbenefittothechurch。
[Footnote165:Eusebius，l。viii。c。13。LactantiusdeM。P。c。
15。DodwellDissertat。Cyprian。xi。75representsthemasinconsistentwitheachother。ButtheformerevidentlyspeaksofConstantiusinthestationofCaesar，andthelatterofthesameprinceintherankofAugustus。]
[Footnote166:Datianusismentioned，inGruter\'sInscriptions，ashavingdeterminedthelimitsbetweentheterritoriesofPaxJulia，andthoseofEbora，bothcitiesinthesouthernpartofLusitania。IfwerecollecttheneighborhoodofthoseplacestoCapeSt。Vincent，wemaysuspectthatthecelebrateddeaconandmartyrofthatnamehadbeeninaccuratelyassignedbyPrudentius，&c。，toSaragossa，orValentia。Seethepompoushistoryofhissufferings，intheMemoiresdeTillemont，tom。v。partii。p。
58—85。Somecriticsareofopinion，thatthedepartmentofConstantius，asCaesar，didnotincludeSpain，whichstillcontinuedundertheimmediatejurisdictionofMaximian。]
TheprovincesofItalyandAfricaexperiencedashortbutviolentpersecution。TherigorousedictsofDiocletianwerestrictlyandcheerfullyexecutedbyhisassociateMaximian，whohadlonghatedtheChristians，andwhodelightedinactsofbloodandviolence。Intheautumnofthefirstyearofthepersecution，thetwoemperorsmetatRometocelebratetheirtriumph；severaloppressivelawsappeartohaveissuedfromtheirsecretconsultations，andthediligenceofthemagistrateswasanimatedbythepresenceoftheirsovereigns。，AfterDiocletianhaddivestedhimselfofthepurple，ItalyandAfricawereadministeredunderthenameofSeverus，andwereexposed，withoutdefence，totheimplacableresentmentofhismasterGalerius。
AmongthemartyrsofRome，Adauctusdeservesthenoticeofposterity。HewasofanoblefamilyinItaly，andhadraisedhimself，throughthesuccessivehonorsofthepalace，totheimportantofficeoftreasureroftheprivateJemesnes。Adauctusisthemoreremarkableforbeingtheonlypersonofrankanddistinctionwhoappearstohavesuffereddeath，duringthewholecourseofthisgeneralpersecution。^167
[Footnote167:Eusebius，l。viii。c。11。Gruter，Inscrip。p。
1171，No。18。RufinushasmistakentheofficeofAdauctus，aswellastheplaceofhismartyrdom。
Note:M。Guizotsuggeststhepowerfulcunuchsofthepalace。
Dorotheus，Gorgonius，andAndrew，admittedbyGibbonhimselftohavebeenputtodeath，p。66。]
TherevoltofMaxentiusimmediatelyrestoredpeacetothechurchesofItalyandAfrica；andthesametyrantwhooppressedeveryotherclassofhissubjects，showedhimselfjust，humane，andevenpartial，towardstheafflictedChristians。Hedependedontheirgratitudeandaffection，andverynaturallypresumed，thattheinjurieswhichtheyhadsuffered，andthedangerswhichtheystillapprehendedfromhismostinveterateenemy，wouldsecurethefidelityofapartyalreadyconsiderablebytheirnumbersandopulence。^168EventheconductofMaxentiustowardsthebishopsofRomeandCarthagemaybeconsideredastheproofofhistoleration，sinceitisprobablethatthemostorthodoxprinceswouldadoptthesamemeasureswithregardtotheirestablishedclergy。Marcellus，theformeroftheseprelates，hadthrownthecapitalintoconfusion，bytheseverepenancewhichheimposedonagreatnumberofChristians，who，duringthelatepersecution，hadrenouncedordissembledtheirreligion。Therageoffactionbrokeoutinfrequentandviolentseditions；thebloodofthefaithfulwasshedbyeachother\'shands，andtheexileofMarcellus，whoseprudenceseemstohavebeenlesseminentthanhiszeal，wasfoundtobetheonlymeasurecapableofrestoringpeacetothedistractedchurchofRome。^169ThebehaviorofMensurius，bishopofCarthage，appearstohavebeenstillmorereprehensible。Adeaconofthatcityhadpublishedalibelagainsttheemperor。Theoffendertookrefugeintheepiscopalpalace；andthoughitwassomewhatearlytoadvanceanyclaimsofecclesiasticalimmunities，thebishoprefusedtodeliverhimuptotheofficersofjustice。Forthistreasonableresistance，Mensuriuswassummonedtocourt，andinsteadofreceivingalegalsentenceofdeathorbanishment，hewaspermitted，afterashortexamination，toreturntohisdiocese。
^170SuchwasthehappyconditionoftheChristiansubjectsofMaxentius，thatwhenevertheyweredesirousofprocuringfortheirownuseanybodiesofmartyrs，theywereobligedtopurchasethemfromthemostdistantprovincesoftheEast。A
storyisrelatedofAglae，aRomanlady，descendedfromaconsularfamily，andpossessedofsoampleanestate，thatitrequiredthemanagementofseventy—threestewards。AmongtheseBonifacewasthefavoriteofhismistress；andasAglaemixedlovewithdevotion，itisreportedthathewasadmittedtoshareherbed。HerfortuneenabledhertogratifythepiousdesireofobtainingsomesacredrelicsfromtheEast。SheintrustedBonifacewithaconsiderablesumofgold，andalargequantityofaromatics；andherlover，attendedbytwelvehorsemenandthreecoveredchariots，undertookaremotepilgrimage，asfarasTarsusinCilicia。^171
[Footnote168:Eusebius，l。viii。c。14。ButasMaxentiuswasvanquishedbyConstantine，itsuitedthepurposeofLactantiustoplacehisdeathamongthoseofthepersecutors。
Note:M。GuizotdirectlycontradictsthisstatementofGibbon，andappealstoEusebius。Maxentius，whoassumedthepowerinItaly，pretendedatfirsttobeaChristian，togainthefavoroftheRomanpeople；heorderedhisministerstoceasetopersecutetheChristians，affectingahypocriticalpiety，inordertoappearmoremildthanhispredecessors；buthisactionssoonprovedthathewasverydifferentfromwhattheyhadatfirsthoped。\"TheactionsofMaxentiuswerethoseofacrueltyrant，butnotthoseofapersecutor:theChristians，liketherestofhissubjects，sufferedfromhisvices，buttheywerenotoppressedasasect。Christianfemaleswereexposedtohislusts，aswellastothebrutalviolenceofhiscolleagueMaximian，buttheywerenotselectedasChristians。—M。]
[Footnote169:TheepitaphofMarcellusistobefoundinGruter，Inscrip。p1172，No。3，anditcontainsallthatweknowofhishistory。MarcellinusandMarcellus，whosenamesfollowinthelistofpopes，aresupposedbymanycriticstobedifferentpersons；butthelearnedAbbedeLongueruewasconvincedthattheywereoneandthesame。
VeridicusrectorlapsisquiacriminaflerePraedixitmiseris，fuitomnibushostisamarus。
Hincfuror，hincodium；sequiturdiscordia，lites，Seditio，caedes；solvunturfoederapacis。
Crimenobalterius，ChristumquiinpacenegavitFinibusexpulsuspatriaeestferitateTyranni。
HaecbreviterDamasusvoluitcompertareferre:
Marcellipopulusmeritumcognoscereposset。
WemayobservethatDamasuswasmadeBishopofRome，A。D。366。]
[Footnote170:Optatuscontr。Donatist。l。i。c。17，18。
Note:ThewordsofOptatusare，ProfectusRomancausamdixit；jussusconrevertiCarthaginem；perhaps，inpleadinghiscause，heexculpatedhimself，sincehereceivedanordertoreturntoCarthage。—G。]
[Footnote171:TheActsofthePassionofSt。Boniface，whichaboundinmiraclesanddeclamation，arepublishedbyRuinart，p。
283—291，bothinGreekandLatin，fromtheauthorityofveryancientmanuscripts。
Note:WeareignorantwhetherAglaeandBonifacewereChristiansatthetimeoftheirunlawfulconnection。SeeTillemont。Mem，Eccles。NoteonthePersecutionofDomitian，tom。v。note82。M。deTillemontprovesalsothatthehistoryisdoubtful。—G。
SirD。DalrympleLordHailescallsthestoryofAglaeandBonifaceasofequalauthoritywithourpopularhistoriesofWhittingtonandHickathrift。ChristianAntiquities，ii。64。—M。]
ThesanguinarytemperofGalerius，thefirstandprincipalauthorofthepersecution，wasformidabletothoseChristianswhomtheirmisfortuneshadplacedwithinthelimitsofhisdominions；anditmayfairlybepresumedthatmanypersonsofamiddlerank，whowerenotconfinedbythechainseitherofwealthorofpoverty，veryfrequentlydesertedtheirnativecountry，andsoughtarefugeinthemilderclimateoftheWest。^!AslongashecommandedonlythearmiesandprovincesofIllyricum，hecouldwithdifficultyeitherfindormakeaconsiderablenumberofmartyrs，inawarlikecountry，whichhadentertainedthemissionariesofthegospelwithmorecoldnessandreluctancethananyotherpartoftheempire。^172ButwhenGaleriushadobtainedthesupremepower，andthegovernmentoftheEast，heindulgedintheirfullestextenthiszealandcruelty，notonlyintheprovincesofThraceandAsia，whichacknowledgedhisimmediatejurisdiction，butinthoseofSyria，Palestine，andEgypt，whereMaximingratifiedhisowninclination，byyieldingarigorousobediencetothesterncommandsofhisbenefactor。^173Thefrequentdisappointmentsofhisambitiousviews，theexperienceofsixyearsofpersecution，andthesalutaryreflectionswhichalingeringandpainfuldistempersuggestedtothemindofGalerius，atlengthconvincedhimthatthemostviolenteffortsofdespotismareinsufficienttoextirpateawholepeople，ortosubduetheirreligiousprejudices。Desirousofrepairingthemischiefthathehadoccasioned，hepublishedinhisownname，andinthoseofLiciniusandConstantine，ageneraledict，which，afterapompousrecitaloftheImperialtitles，proceededinthefollowingmanner:—
[Footnote!:Alittleafterthis，ChristianitywaspropagatedtothenorthoftheRomanprovinces，amongthetribesofGermany:amultitudeofChristians，forcedbythepersecutionsoftheEmperorstotakerefugeamongtheBarbarians，werereceivedwithkindness。Euseb。deVit。Constant。ii。53。SemlerSelect。cap。
H。E。p。115。TheGothsowedtheirfirstknowledgeofChristianitytoayounggirl，aprisonerofwar；shecontinuedinthemidstofthemherexercisesofpiety；shefasted，prayed，andpraisedGoddayandnight。Whenshewasaskedwhatgoodwouldcomeofsomuchpainfultroublesheanswered，\"ItisthusthatChrist，theSonofGod，istobehonored。\"Sozomen，ii。c。6。—
G。]
[Footnote172:Duringthefourfirstcenturies，thereexistfewtracesofeitherbishopsorbishopricsinthewesternIllyricum。
IthasbeenthoughtprobablethattheprimateofMilanextendedhisjurisdictionoverSirmium，thecapitalofthatgreatprovince。SeetheGeographiaSacraofCharlesdeSt。Paul，p。
68—76，withtheobservationsofLucasHolstenius。]
[Footnote173:TheviiithbookofEusebius，aswellasthesupplementconcerningthemartyrsofPalestine，principallyrelatetothepersecutionofGaleriusandMaximin。ThegenerallamentationswithwhichLactantiusopensthevthbookofhisDivineInstitutionsalludetotheircruelty。]
\"Amongtheimportantcareswhichhaveoccupiedourmindfortheutilityandpreservationoftheempire，itwasourintentiontocorrectandreestablishallthingsaccordingtotheancientlawsandpublicdisciplineoftheRomans。Wewereparticularlydesirousofreclaimingintothewayofreasonandnature，thedeludedChristianswhohadrenouncedthereligionandceremoniesinstitutedbytheirfathers；andpresumptuouslydespisingthepracticeofantiquity，hadinventedextravagantlawsandopinions，accordingtothedictatesoftheirfancy，andhadcollectedavarioussocietyfromthedifferentprovincesofourempire。Theedicts，whichwehavepublishedtoenforcetheworshipofthegods，havingexposedmanyoftheChristianstodangeranddistress，manyhavingsuffereddeath，andmanymore，whostillpersistintheirimpiousfolly，beingleftdestituteofanypublicexerciseofreligion，wearedisposedtoextendtothoseunhappymentheeffectsofourwontedclemency。Wepermitthemthereforefreelytoprofesstheirprivateopinions，andtoassembleintheirconventicleswithoutfearormolestation，providedalwaysthattheypreserveaduerespecttotheestablishedlawsandgovernment。Byanotherrescriptweshallsignifyourintentionstothejudgesandmagistrates；andwehopethatourindulgencewillengagetheChristianstoofferuptheirprayerstotheDeitywhomtheyadore，foroursafetyandprosperityfortheirown，andforthatoftherepublic。\"^174Itisnotusuallyinthelanguageofedictsandmanifestosthatweshouldsearchfortherealcharacterorthesecretmotivesofprinces；butasthesewerethewordsofadyingemperor，hissituation，perhaps，maybeadmittedasapledgeofhissincerity。