Section 426
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 395 ders to each of the judges, that in future none of these should behave with severity to the provincials, but rather reclaim them to the worship of the gods, by exhortation and flattery. Then, therefore, whilst, agreeably to my orders, the injunctions were observed by the judges, it happened that no one of the countries in the east was either banished or insulted, but rather that they were reclaimed to the worship of the gods, from the fact that nothing severe was done against them. After this, however, when a year had passed away, I arrived under fortunate circum stances at Nicomedia, and made my stay there, and citizens of that place came to me with the statues of the gods, greatly intreating me, that by all means this people should not be suffered to dwell in their country.* But when I ascertained that many men of the same religion dwelt in these parts, I gave them this an swer : That indeed, I cheerfully thanked them for this petition, but perceived this was not alike requested by all. If, how ever, there were some that persevered in this superstition, that each one had the option to live as he pleased ; even if they wished to adopt the worship of the gods. Nevertheless I deemed it ne cessary to give a friendly answer both to the inhabitants of Ni comedia and the other cities, which had so earnestly and zea lously presented the same petition, viz., that not one of the Christians should be permitted to dwell in their cities, because this same course was observed by all the ancient emperors, and was acceptable to the immortal gods, by whom all men and the whole administration of the republic subsists, and also, that I would confirm this same petition which they had presented for the worship of the immortal gods. Wherefore, although there have been before this, letters sent to your devotedness, and it has in like manner been ordered that the rulers should attempt nothing harsh against those provincials that are desirous of ob serving this course, but that they should deal mildly and mode rately with them, nevertheless that they may suffer neither blows nor injuries from the beneficiariesf or the other common sol* This is his account of what Eusebius had wittily called " sending an embassy to himself." f The beneficiarii were soldiers, who were promoted by the tribunes, and had 36