Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/92

 xl had a Hand in't. For upon the Lord Deputy of Gaul's writing to the Emperour to know his Pleasure about some Christians in Custody, his Answer was, that he would have him execute those who confess'd, and discharge the rest. But here 'twas none of his intention to make the owning of Christianity Capital ; his meaning was only that those should suffer who could not clear themselves of the Crimes charg'd upon them. For the Governours of Provinces, and inferiour Magistracy, perceiving that the only way to oppress the Christians, was to asperse their Innocence, and surprize the Emperour by Misinformation; Upon this View, they used to load the Indictment, and make the pretended Criminal as black as possible ; the Particulars of which they took care to specify in their Packets to Court ; And to fortify the Evidence, transmitted the Depositions of some bribed, or frighted Slaves, who being set upon the Rack, confess'd what they had a mind to. And thus having gain'd a general Order by misrepresenting Matter of Fact, they explain'd it to their own Humour, and did what Mischief they pleas'd. And don't such Mismanagement as this sometimes happen under the best Emperours? Don't their Viceroys, Generals, and Magistrates often abuse their Power, and