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。