[3]. "Decline and Fall," Vol. I., p. 486, Ed. of 1880.
[4]. "Intellectual Development of Europe," Vol. I., p. 360.
[5]. Of the burning of Rome, the punishment of the Christians and this celebrated passage in the writings of the famous Roman annalist, Gibbon, from whom I quote the phrase above, says: "The most sceptical criticism is obliged to respect the truth of this extraordinary fact and the integrity of this celebrated passage of Tacitus. The former [the burning of Rome and the punishment of the Christians] is confirmed by the diligent and accurate Suetonius, who mentions the punishment which Nero inflicted on the Christians, a sect of men who had embraced a new and criminal superstition. The latter may be proved by the consent of the most ancient manuscripts, by the imimitable character of the style of Tacitus, by his reputation, which guarded his text from the interpolation of pious fraud." "Decline and Fall," Vol. i., p. 448.
[6]. "Tacitus Annl.," lib, XV., ch. 44.
[7]. See Milman's Note in "Decline and Fall," Vol. I., p. 450.
[8]. I have taken Milner's translation of the Epistle. See "Ch. Hist.," Vol I., p. 145.
[9]. "Milner's Ch. Hist.," Vol. I., p. 148.
[10]. "Decline and Fall," Vol. I., p. 453.
[11]. An account of these persecutions at great length will be found in the letters of the survivors sent to the churches of Asia and Phrygia. "Eusebius," Book V., ch. i.
[12]. That is, they were executed. Eusebius, Bk. vi., Ch. xli.