vit. 5.] ‘THE FIRST BOOK. 55 
history doth more lively set forth, than that legend tale 
of Gregorius Magnus, bishop of Rome, who was noted 
for the extreme envy he bare towards all heathen excel- 
lency: and yet he is reported, out of the love and estim- 
ation of Trajan’s moral virtues, to have made unto God 
passionate and fervent prayers for the delivery of his soul 
out of hell: and to have obtained it, with a caveat that 
he should make no more such petitions. In this prince’s 
time also the persecutions against the Christians received 
intermission, upon the certificate of Plinius Secundus, a 
man of excellent learning and by Trajan advanced. 
6. Adrian, his successor, was the most curious man 
that lived, and the most universal inquirer; insomuch as 
it was noted for an error in his mind, that he desired to 
comprehend all things, and not to reserve himself for the 
worthiest things: falling into the like humour that was 
long before noted in Philip of Macedon; who, when he 
would needs over-rule and put down an excellent musician 
in an argument touching music, was well answered by 
him again, God forbid, sir (saith he), that your fortune 
should be so bad, as to know these things better than J, 
It pleased God likewise to use the curiosity of this em- 
peror as an inducement to the peace of his Church in 
those days. For having Christ in veneration, not as a 
God or Saviour but as a wonder or novelty, and having 
his picture in his gallery, matched with Apollonius (with 
whom in his vain imagination he thought he had some 
conformity), yet it served the turn to allay the bitter 
hatred of those times against the Christian name, so as 
the Church had peace during his time. And for his 
government civil, although he did not attain to that of 
Trajan’s in glory of arms or perfection of justice, yet 
in deserving of the weal of the subject he did exceed 
