A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Harsher Persecutions 525
evident that he is not, by invoking our gods, let him be
pardoned upon repentance.
Informations without the accuser's name subscribed
ought not to be received in prosecutions of any kind; as it
is
introducing a very dangerous precedent, by no means
agreeable to the equity of my government.
V. Persecution under Decius
This long peace, however, was afterward interrupted. The persecutor
IS
Decius appeared in the world, an accursed wild beast, punished.
to afflict the Church—and who but a bad man would Lactantius,
persecute religion? It seems as if he had been raised to f/^'fjj^,'^'^^^
sovereign eminence, at once to rage against God and at Persecutors
once to fall; for
, , .
undertakmg an
... • ^
expedition against
ii
the
died, IV.
Carpi, who had then possessed themselves of Dacia and soldier'em-
Moesia, he was suddenly surrounded by the barbarians and \^^^\^'^~
slain, together with a great part of his army. Nor could
he be honored with the rites of sepulture; but stripped
and naked, he lay, to be devoured by wild beasts and
birds—a fit end for the enemy of God.
To those chosen to superintend the sacrifices at the Certificate
of S£LCriuC6
village of Alexander-Island, from Aurelius Diogenes, the
son of Satabus, of the village of Alexander-Island, being creek^^'
about 72 years old, a scar on the right eyebrow. It has
f^"^^,^"'
always been my custom to sacrifice to the gods, and now ^^.^ ^^^^.g_
in your presence in accordance with the decrees I have cate is to
sacrificed and poured libations and tasted the offerings, the'bea^ rer is
not a Christian.
and I request you to counter-sign my statement. May
good fortune attend you. I, Aurelius Diogenes, have
made this request. (2nd hand) I, Aurelius Syrus, as a
participant have certified Diogenes as sacrificing along
with us. (ist hand). The first year of the Emperor Csesar