University of Virginia Library

366

Julian slain, Jovinianus reigns,
A worthy Prince all piety mentains,
Defends the Orthodox, on Arians frowns
But was too good to live: glory him Crowns

368

And in his place they Valentinian bring
A worthy prince faithfull to Christ his King.
He Chose his Colleague Valens his good brother,
As yet appearing such, yet proov'd another.
Sad persecutor of Christs Saints and Cause
Whom to the Arians his Wife drew, Claws
The Orthodox off when his brothers head
Was laid, or hand was in the Western bed,
For at his baptism Eudoxius made
Him swear to Arianism, and (its said)
To persecute them that the same oppose
And hence he made the Orthodox as foes.
But boyld thus raw, not Fish nor Flesh he prooves
Gives leave for all, both Pagans and the Jews
And Hereticks at Antioch their rites
To Celebrate and that in open Sight.
Hence Bacchus, Ceres, Jupiter again
Revive their Worship (thank thee Valens, reign).
He banisht such as would not then partake
With his Euzoius, nor Communicate.
Eusebius of Samosatis yea
Pelagius of Laodicea
Barse of Edessa and such are sent
By him into a grieveous banishment.
He punisht some by fines, by scourgings some
Drowns many in Orantes that doth run
By Antioch, nay eighty one Choice men
Ecclesiasticks all came to him then
At Nicomedia and bills display
Before him of their Wrongs they underlay.
Who all inragd and Chaft doth thus Command
Modestus the Lieuetenent underhand
To take and slay them all, Who is in fear
This open act would raise an uproare there
He ships them then seeming as if he would
Exile them, but the seamen thus are told
Convay them to the sea, then to your boate
Then set the ship a fire and let it floate.
And so they did, thus these Choice men at sea
Are burned with the Ship and made away.

And now he came to Antioch thus and
Doth down destroyes Whom Arians do withstand.
And now he goes forth to Edissagny
A City in Mesopotamia
As if to see Thomas his Temple there
(But something else designed by him were)
The people that in troops flock to the same,
He knew no friends were to his Arian game.
He gave's Lieutenent then a box o'th'eare
And bad him slay all those that worshipt there
Modestus slow did privily convay
The matter, willing them t'omit next day.
But this they will not. Now Modestus goes
Unto the work, these sheep of Christ to pose,
And as he goes a woman in her hand
Having her Child did hast and brake his band
He to her saith, thou silly woman where
Art thou thus hasting? She replied there
Where others are, saith he, dost not thou know
That to their Death Modestus out must go.
Yea Quoth the Woman, therefore thus run I.
And why, saith he, dost take this little boy?
That he may be with Martyres, she repli'd,
Whereat amaizd, he back his Troop did guide,
And did this Emperour this matter show
And did perswade him from their overthrow.
But oh! the Tyranny that did invade
The Alexandians when once was laid
Choice Athanasius' head Under the hand
Of Lucius the Arian Bishop, and
Palladius the Pagan, Pretor there,
Who both in wicked Cruelty gulpht were.
What Rapine, Murder, Paganry, What Cries
By Tyrants there, the Eares would dread the noyse.
He that desires to heare the same may find
The same Theodoret for all hath lin'd.

But to Conclude this Wicked Arian Prince
To seek unto the Divell doth not mince,
Who should succeed him, and the Crafty ape
Doth answer him THEOD. and lets him gape
To catch the man and meaning of the same.
But now this bloody Valens void of shame
Commands all to be slain whose name begin
With Theod hoping to prevent the thing,
Oh Foolish man! Is this thy Chief reliefe?
Thy folly shews beliefe and Unbeliefe
In thee at once; granted to Satan so.
Which in the selfesame action thus doth flow.
Didst not believe? Then Wherefore didst thou seek
Unto this Ape? Didst thou believe truth keeps
Unto his Word? Why didst thou undertake
To render him a lyer and to make
Away the man that shall succeed thyselfe?
Yet didst thou not believe this hellish elfe,
Thou wouldst account it needless thus to doe,
But didst believe, yet b'lieve it t'overthrow.
This shews thou dost believe God's false and true
Beliefe and Unbeliefe to act thee too.
These things do give thy hands a deeper stain
Of crimson dy by harmless blood thus slain.

But to go on when Crabbed Death had took
To do this Tyrant. Things did better looke.
Brave Valentinians sons come in his place

382

Gratian and Valentinian through grace,
Choice Gratian did for his Colleague choose
Brave Theodosius. Now Grace ensues.
---eat Valentinian is drawn aside
By's Arian grandam Justina to slide
And hughly heaves now Ambrose to exile
Who at Millain disturbance had awhile,
But God was pleasd that much he should not do
By his attempts his truth to overthrow.