the incendiaries, and proceeding against them with the most exquisite torments. Having apprehended some, whom they either forced or persuaded to confess themselves guilty, by their means great numbers of others were betrayed; whom Tacitus confesses, that not the burning of the city, but the common hatred made criminal. They were treated with all the instances of scorn and cruelty; some of them were wrapt up in the skins of wild beasts, and worried by dogs; others crucified; others burnt alive, being clad in paper coats, dipt in pitch, wax, and such combustible matter; that when day light failed, they might serve for torches in the night. These spectacles Nero exhibited in his own gardens, which yet the people entertained with more pity than pleasure: knowing they were done, not for the public benefit, but merely to gratify his own private rage and malice. Little better usage did the Christians meet with in other parts of the empire, as appears from the inscription" found at Clunie in Spain, dedicated to Nero in memory of his having cleared the province of those that had introduced a new superstition amongst mankind. Under this persecution suffered Tecla, Torques, Torquatus, Marcellus, and several others mentioned in the ancient Martyrologies, especially the apostles Peter and Paul; the one upon the cross, the other by the sword.

19. The troublesome vicissitudes and revolutions of affairs that happened under the succeeding emperors, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, and the mild and merciful disposition of Vespasian and Titus, gave some rest to the Christians, till Domitian succeeding, began a se-,. cond Persecution. A man of a temper vastly different from that of his father, and his brother; for though at first he put on a plausible carriage, yet he soon left off the vizor, and appeared like himself; lazy and inactive, ill-natured and suspicious, griping and covetous, proud and insolent; yea, so vainly ambitious as to affect divinity, in all public edicts assuming to himself, and in all petitions and addresses requiring from others, the titles

n Ap. Gruter. loc. supr. citat.

extravagancies of his predecessors not a little contribu-
ting to sweeten his government to them. He was
mild and dispassionate, familiar, and courteous; he
showed a great reverence to the senate, by whose advice
he usually acted; and they to requite him, gave him the
title of Optimus, as whom they judged the best of all
their princes. He conversed freely and innocently with
all men, being desirous rather to be beloved, than either
feared or honoured by the people. The glory of all
which is exceedingly stained in the records of the church
by his severe proceedings against the Christians. He
looked upon the religion of the empire as daily under-
mined by this new way of worship, that the numbers of
Christians grew formidable, and might possibly endan-
ger the peace and tranquillity of the Roman state; and that
there was no better way to secure to himself the favour
of the gods, especially in his wars, than to vindicate their
cause against the Christians. Accordingly, therefore, he
issued out orders to proceed against them, as illegal so-
cieties, erected and acting contrary to the laws; in which
number all colleges and corporations were accounted,
that were not settled either by the emperor's constitu-
tion, or the decree of the senate; and the persons fre-
quenting them adjudged guilty of high treason. Indeed
the emperors (as we have elsewhere observed) were in-
finitely suspicious of such meetings, as which might
easily conspire into faction and treason: and therefore
when Pliny interceded with Trajan in behalf of the city
of Nicomedia, that being so subject to fires, he would
constitute a corporation of smiths, though but a small
number, which might be easily kept in order, and which
he promised to keep a particular eye upon the empe-
ror answered, by no means: for we ought to remember
(says he) that that province and especially those cities are
greatly disturbed by such kinds of factions; and whatever
the title or occasion be, if they meet together, they will
be Heteriæ, though less numerous than the rest. That

p L. 1. & 3. ff. de Colleg. & corp. Lib. 47. tit. 22.
q Ulpain de off. procons. 1. 6. ib. 1. 2.

Lib. 10. Epist. 42, 43.

they looked upon the Christian assemblies as in the number of these unlawful corporations; and that under this pretence Trajan endeavoured to suppress them, will appear from Pliny's letter to him. In the mean time he commanded them either to offer sacrifice to the gods, or to be punished as contemners of them. The people also in several places by popular tumults falling foul upon them. The chief of those who obtained the crown of Martyrdom under him, were St. Clemens bishop of Rome, St. Simeon bishop of Jerusalem, and St. Ignatius bishop of Antioch, whom Trajan himself condemned, and sent to Rome, there to be thrown to wild beasts.

21. The persecution raged, as in the other parts of the empire, so especially in the provinces of Pontus and Bithynia, where Pliny the younger (who had some time since been consul) then governed as Pro. Prætor, with consular power and dignity. Who seeing vast multitudes of Christians indicted by others, and pressing on of themselves to execution, and that to proceed severely against all that came would be in a manner to lay waste those provinces, he thought good to write to the emperor about this matter; to know his pleasure in the case. His letter, because acquainting us so exactly with the state of the Christians, and the manner of proceeding against them, and giving so eminent a testimony to their innocency and integrity we shall here insert.

C. PLINIUS TO THE EMPEROR TRAJAN.

IT is my custom, Sir, in all affairs wherein I doubt, to have recourse to you. For who can better either sway my irresolution, or instruct my ignorance? I have never been heretofore present at the examination and trial of Christians; and therefore know not what the crime is, and how far it is wont to be punished, or how to proceed in these inquiries. Nor was I a little at a loss, whether regard be to be had to difference of age, whether the young and the weak be to be distinguished from the more strong and aged? whether place may be allowed to repentance, and it may be of any advantage

to him, who once was a Christian, to cease to be so? Whether the name alone, without other offences or the offences that go along with the name, ought to be punished? In the mean time towards those who as Christians have been brought before me, I have taken this course; I asked them whether they were Christians? if they confessed it, I asked them once and again, threatening punishment; if they persisted, I commanded them to be executed. For, I did not at all doubt but that, whatever their confession was, their stubbornness and inflexible obstinacy ought to be punished. Others there were guilty of the like madness, whom, because they were Roman citizens, I adjudged to be transmitted to Rome. While things thus proceeded, the error, as is usual, spreading further, more cases did ensue. A nameless libel was presented, containing the names of many who denied themselves to be, or to have been Christians. These, when after my example they invocated the gods and offered wine and incense to your statue (which for that purpose I had commanded to be brought together with the images of the gods) and had moreover blasphemed Christ (which it is said none that are true Christians can be compelled to do) I dismissed; others mentioned in the libel confessed themselves Christians, but presently denied it, that they had indeed been such, but had renounced it; some by the space of three years, others many years since, and one five and twenty years ago. All which paid their reverence and veneration to your statue, and the images of the gods, and blasphemed Christ. They affirmed that the whole sum of that sect or error lay in this, that they were wont upon a set solemn day to meet together before sun-rise, and to sing among themselves a hymn to Christ, as the God whom they worshipped, and oblige themselves by an oath, not to commit any wickedness, but to abstain from theft, robbery, adultery, to keep faith, and when required, to restore any pledge instrusted with them. Which done, then to depart for that time, and to meet again at a common meal, to partake of a promiscuous and harmless food; which yet they laid aside, after I had

G