University of Virginia Library

The Ninth Persecution

Aurelian a golden Prince indeed
If that his name and nature well agreed,
Would sharply Chide the saying old fulfills
A Doctor good, but gives too bitter pills.
At length lets out his rage against Christ flock
Yet when's decrees were written down to knock
The hand divine prevented then the same
By Thunder and by Lightning which came
And terrifide him, so as that he could
Not sign his own Decrees, God did back hold
And shook his hand so. And his men him slay

284

Soon after marching to Hieraclea
Then Annius Tacitus the helm doth hand
Florinus after him doth two months stand.

284

Then after him a Golden Mark steps in
Aurelius Probus, he the game did win.
Then Carus with his sons three years bore sway
Then Dioclesian after gains the Day,
Who in his nineteenth yeare did blow the flame
Of Persecution up against Christs name,
Who by his Concubine was told that he
Should slay a bore and Emperour should bee.
He hence slew many, still no Empire had
He usd this Proverb, let be good or bad,
I kill the Bore another eats the meate
But being Chosen to th'Imperiall seat
And seing one nam'd Aper who had slain
The former Emperour he swore again
Numerian the wrong man was and so

290

He forth with Aper slew and came unto
Th'Imperiall seat wherein his Tyranny
In the next Century ragd cruelly.