Of The Manner In Which The Persecutors Died

1 Chap. I. The Lord has heard those supplications which you, my best beloved Donatus 2 Chap. II. In the latter days of the Emperor Tiberius, in the consulship of Ruberius Geminus and 3 Chap. III. After an interval of some years from the death of Nero 4 Chap. IV. This long peace, however, was afterwards interrupted. 5 Chap. V. And presently Valerian also, in a mood alike frantic 6 Chap. VI. Aurelian might have recollected the fate of the captived emperor 7 Chap. VII. While Diocletian, that author of ill, and deviser of misery 8 Chap. VIII. What was the character of his brother in empire 9 Chap. IX. But the other Maximian Galerius, chosen by Diocletian for his son-in-law 10 Chap. X. Diocletian, as being of a timorous disposition, was a searcher into futurity 11 Chap. XI. The mother of Galerius, a woman exceedingly superstitious, was a votary of the gods of 12 Chap. XII. A fit and auspicious day was sought out for the accomplishment of this undertaking 13 Chap. XIII. Next day an edict was published, depriving the Christians of all honours and dignities 14 Chap. XIV. But Galerius, not satisfied with the tenor of the edict 15 Chap. XV. And now Diocletian raged, not only against his own domestics 16 Chap. XVI. Thus was all the earth afflicted; and from east to west 17 Chap. XVII. The wicked plan having been carried into execution, Diocletian 18 Chap. XVIII. Within a few days Galerius Cæsar arrived, not to congratulate his father-in-law on the re-establishment 19 Chap. XIX. Matters having been thus concerted, Diocletian and Galerius went in procession to publish the nomination 20 Chap. XX. Galerius having effected the expulsion of the two old men 21 Chap. XXI. Having thus attained to the highest power, he bent his mind to afflict that empire 22 Chap. XXII. And now that cruelty, which he had learned in torturing the Christians 23 Chap. XXIII. But that which gave rise to public and universal calamity 24 Chap. XXIV. Already the judgment of God approached him, and that season ensued in which his fortunes 25 Chap. XXV. Some few days after, the portrait of Constantine, adorned with laurels 26 Chap. XXVI. Things seemed to be arranged in some measure to the satisfaction of Galerius 27 Chap. XXVII. But Maximian, who knew the outrageous temper of Galerius 28 Chap. XXVIII. After the flight of Galerius, Maximian, having returned from Gaul 29 Chap. XXIX. Then Maximian returned into Gaul; and after having made some stay in those quarters 30 Chap. XXX. Maximian, having thus forfeited the respect due to an emperor and a father-in-law 31 Chap. XXXI. From Maximian, God, the avenger of religion and of His people 32 Chap. XXXII. Maximin Daia was incensed at the nomination of Licinius to the dignity of emperor 33 Chap. XXXIII. And now, when Galerius was in the eighteenth year of his reign 34 Chap. XXXIV. |Amongst our other regulations for the permanent advantage of the commonweal 35 Chap. XXXV. This edict was promulgated at Nicomedia on the day preceding the kalends of May 36 Chap. XXXVI. Daia, on receiving this news, hasted with relays of horses from the East 37 Chap. XXXVII. While occupied in this plan, he received letters from Constantine which deterred him from proceeding 38 Chap. XXXVIII. But that which distinguished his character, and in which he transcended all former emperors 39 Chap. XXXIX. Now Daia, in gratifying his libidinous desires, made his own will the standard of right 40 Chap. XL. There was a certain matron of high rank who already had grandchildren by more than 41 Chap. XLI. But the empress, an exile in some desert region of Syria 42 Chap. XLII. At this time, by command of Constantine, the statues of Maximian Herculius were thrown down 43 Chap. XLIII. Of the adversaries of God there still remained one 44 Chap. XLIV. And now a civil war broke out between Constantine and Maxentius. 45 Chap. XLV. Constantine having settled all things at Rome, went to Milan about the beginning of winter. 46 Chap. XLVI. The armies thus approaching each other, seemed on the eve of a battle. 47 Chap. XLVII. So the two armies drew nigh; the trumpets gave the signal 48 Chap. XLVIII. Not many days after the victory, Licinius, having received part of the soldiers of Daia 49 Chap. XLIX. While Licinius pursued with his army, the fugitive tyrant retreated 50 Chap. L. Thus did God subdue all those who persecuted His name 51 Chap. LI. Valeria, too, who for fifteen months had wandered under a mean garb from province to 52 Chap. LII. I relate all those things on the authority of well-informed persons 53 Elucidation 54 Fragments of Lactantius 55 The Phoenix 56 A Poem on the Passion of the Lord 57 General Note.