had, though in a constitutional manner,
implored the aid of the law against him; and that the officers, by
command of the judge, served a summons on him as he was setting out on a
journey, commanding him to answer to the action according to law. And
the Christians at Milan to this day cherish their memory, and call the
place where they were buried, the tomb of the innocents.

6. Afterwards, in the affair of a certain Pannonian, named Maxentius, on
account of the execution of a sentence very properly commanded by the
judge to be carried out immediately, he ordered all the magistrates of
these towns to be put to death, when Eupraxius, who at that time was
quaestor, interposed, saying, "Be more sparing, O most pious of emperors,
for those whom you command to be put to death as criminals, the
Christian religion honours as martyrs, that is as persons acceptable to
the deity."

7. And the prefect Florentius, imitating the salutary boldness of
Eupraxius, when he heard that the emperor was in a similar manner very
angry about some trifling and pardonable matter, and that he had ordered
the execution of three of the magistrates in each of several cities,
said to him, "And what is to be done if any town has not got so many
magistrates? It will be necessary to suspend the execution there till
there are a sufficient number for the purpose."

8. And besides this cruel conduct there was another circumstance
horrible even to speak of, that if any one came before him protesting
against being judged by a powerful enemy, and requiring that some other
judge might hear his case, he always refused it; and however just the
arguments of the man might be, he remitted his cause to the decision of
the very judge whom he feared. And there was another very bad thing much
spoken of; namely, that when it was urged that any debtor was in such
absolute want as to be unable to pay anything, he used to pronounce
sentence of death on him.

9. But some princes do these and other similar actions with the more
lofty arrogance, because they never allow their friends any opportunity
of setting them right in any mistake they make, either in a plan or in
its execution; while they terrify their enemies by the greatness of
their power. There can be no question of mistake or error raised before
men who consider whatever they choose to do to be in itself the greatest
of virtues.

VIII.

Sec. 1. Valentinian having left Amiens, and being on his way to Treves