CHAPTER XV

THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED TO THE HEATHEN

DURING the whole ten years of the persecution, there was no cessation of plots and civil wars among the persecutors themselves. For the sea indeed was impassable to the mariner, nor could any set sail from any port, without being exposed to every kind of torment, either scourged, or racked in their limbs, or lacerated and galled with torturing instruments in their sides, to ascertain whether they had come from the enemy of the opposite party, and at last were subjected either to the punishment of the cross or of fire. Besides these things, one saw every where shields and coats of mail preparing, darts and javelins and other implements of war; and in every place also, were collections of galleys and naval armour; neither was there any thing expected any where but the attacks of enemies from day to day. Besides this, famine and pestilence were superadded, of which we shall relate what is most important in its proper place.