'onthe meinory of their hero and martyr, con-. '53 Many ages afterwards, Edward I. practised, with great success, the same mode of persecution against the clergy of England. See Hume's History ofIanland, vol. ii. p. 300, last 4to edition. tributed tributed to fix a deep impression of terror and C Phatred in the mind of Diocletian m. His fears were soon alarmed by the view of a Fireohhc danger from which he very narrowly escaped. Within fifteen days the palace of Nicomedia, diaimput-ct . . ed to the and even the bedchamber of Diocletian, were Christians, twice in flames; and though both times they were extinguished without any material damage, the singular repetition of the fire was. justly considered as an evident proof that it had not been the effect of chance or negligence. The suspicion naturally fell on the Christians; and it was suggested, with some degree of probability, that those desperate fanatics, provoked by their present sufferings, and apprehensive of impehding calamities, had entered into a conspiracy with their faithful brethren, the eunuchs of the palace, against the lives of two emperors, Whom they detested as the irreconcil-eable enemies of the church of God. J'ealousy and resentment prevailed in every breast, but especially in that of Diocletian. A great number of persons, distinguished either by the offices which they had filled, or by the favour which they had enjoyed, were thrown into prison. Every mode of torture was put in practice, and the court, as well as city, was polluted with many bloody executions'ss. But '54y'Lactantius only calis him quidam, etsi non recte, magno tamen animo, &e. c. 12. Eusebius, (1. viii. c. 5.) adorns him with secular honours. Neither have condescended to mention his name; but the Greeks celebrate his memory under that of- John. See Tillemont, Memoires Ecclesiastiques, tom. v. part ii. p. 320. '55 Lactantius de M. P. c. 13, 14. Potentisiimi quondam Eunuchi necati, per quos Palatium et ipse constabat. Euscbius (1. v.ii. H h 4 c. 6 )\ Execution of the first edict, e. 6.) mentions the cruel extortions of the ennnchs, Gorgonius and Dorotheus, and of Anthimius, bishop of Nicomedia; and both those writers describe, in a vague but tragical manner, the horrid v scenes which were acted even in the Imperial presence. '56 SeesiLactantius, Eusebius, and Constantine, ad qutum Sanc torum, e. 775. Eusebius confesses his ignorance of the, cause, of the fire. expected, |