A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

356 A Source Book for Ancient Church History[325]those who were to their own ruin murderers of themselves intheir desire for a false martyrdom. Of these, also, were thosewho rushed headlong and threw themselves down from the summitsof lofty mountains. Behold from what numbers the secondBishop Donatus formed his cohorts! Those who were bearingtreasure which they had obtained for the poor were held back byfear. They decided in so great a predicament to demand fromCount Sylvester armed soldiery, not that by these they should doviolence to any one, but that they might stop the force drawn upby the aforesaid Bishop Donatus. Thus it happened that an armedsoldiery was seen. Now, as to what followed, see to whom itought or can be ascribed. They had there an infinite number ofthose summoned, and it is certain that a supply of provisions fora year had been provided. Of the basilicas they made a sort ofpublic granary, and awaited the coming of those against whomthey might expend their fury, if the presence of armed soldieryhad not prevented them. For when, before the soldiers came, themetatores, 109 as was the custom, were sent, they were not properlyreceived, contrary to the apostolic precept, “honor to whomhonor, custom to whom custom, tribute to whom tribute, owe noman anything.” For those who had been sent with their horseswere smitten by those whose names you have made public withmalicious intent. They were the authors of their own wrong; andwhat they could suffer they themselves taught by these outrages.The soldiers who had been maltreated returned to their fellows,and for what two or three suffered, all grieved. All were roused,and their officers could not restrain the angered soldiers.§ 68. Julian the ApostateThe reign of Julian the Apostate (361-363) is important in thehistory of the Christian Church, in the first place, as indicating109 The metatores were those who were sent ahead of a troop of soldiers toprovide for quartering them upon the inhabitants.