T.I ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 129 



history doth more lively set forth, than that legend tale of Gregorius 

 Magnus, bishop of Rome, who was noted for the extreme envy he boic 

 towards all heathen excellency ; and yet he is reported, out of the love 

 and estimation 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 ( f Tlinius Se- 

 cundus, a man of excellent learning, and by Trajan advanced. 



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 

 \mnself 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, &quot; God forbid, Sir,&quot; saith he, 

 &quot; that your fortune should be so bad, as to know these things better 

 than I.&quot; It pleased God likewise to use the curiosity of this emperor, 

 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 the glory of arms, or perfection of justice , 

 yet in deserving of the weal of the subject he did exceed him. For 

 Trajan erected many famous monuments and buildings, insomuch as 

 Constantine the Great in emulation was wont to call him &quot; Parietaria,&quot; 

 wall-flower, because his name was upon so many walls : but his 

 buildings and works were more of glory and triumph than use and 

 necessity. But Adrian spent his whole reign, which was peaceable, in 

 a perambulation, or survey of the Roman empire, giving order, and 

 making assignation where he went, for re-edifying of cities, towns, and 

 forts decayed, and for cutting of rivers and streams, and for making 

 i and passages, and for policying of cities and commonalties 

 with new ordinances and constitutions, and granting new franchises 

 and incorporations ; so thac his whole time was a very restauration of 

 all the lapses and decays of former times. 



Antoninus Pius, who succeeded him, was a prince excellently 

 learned ; and had the patient and subtle wit of a schoolman ; inso 

 much as in common speech, which leaves no virtue untaxcd, he was 

 called &quot; Cymini sector,&quot; a carver, or a divider of cumin seed, which 

 is one of the least seeds ; such a patience he hud and settled spirit, 

 to enter into the least and most exact difference of causes, a fruit no 

 doubt of the exceeding tranquillity and serenity of his mind ; which 

 being no ways charged or encumbered, cither with fears, remorses, or 

 Scruples, but having been noted for a man of the purest goodness, 

 without all fiction or affectation, that hath reigned or lived, made his 



