that is greatest among you let him be the servant of all." It is thought that the British bishops were never much enriched; but as the general state of society in Britain became very bad, it seems that the love of the Christians to their Lord had become cold, and that they were much occupied with disputes. It is impossible, however, to tell at any time how many unnoticed and unknown persons having "heard the word of God kept it, and brought forth fruits with patience;" quietly following the will of God, and by His help having their new inward life strengthened till they were received into the Church triumphant above,

CHAPTER VII.

TIMES OF WAR.-TIMES OF PEACE.-CONFUSIONS AT ROME. CARAUSIUS. OTHER USURPERS. BOLDNESS OF THE

PIRATES.

WHEN we read short accounts of the early history of our own country, and are told of the arrival of the Romans, of the battles they fought, of the severe measures they took to make the independent tribes submissive, and when we hear further of the turbulent Picts and Scots breaking in on their southern neighbours, and of the pirates watching for opportunities to attack the coasts, we are apt to think that the whole of life must have been passed by the inhabitants of England in terror and disquiet. This is because historians have often only known and related the terrible and striking events which took place; and when burning, plunder, and destruction ceased, the common occupations of men in daily life were not thought worthy of record.

After the persecution by Diocletian was over, so little is said of the Britons in history for seventy-four years, that it is thought they were at peace during that time. How gladly all the Christians who had fled to the forests would come out of their hidingplaces and return to their homes; how heartily would they thank God that they might again serve Him without fear. The priests of their old idolatry had taught that fighting was the noblest employment for man, and that the most glorious death was on the battle field; but, from their new teachers, they had heard the glad tidings of "peace on earth, and good-will towards

Wherever true Christianity was taught, men learnt that it is a far nobler employment to improve and cultivate God's earth than to waste and destroy it. When there was a time of peace, the Christians would willingly employ it in labouring diligently in such arts and trades as they were able to learn. The civilized Romans had long known

the comfort of industry and order, though they were heathens; and partly by example, partly by compulsion, those British who still continued heathens became industrious also.

Caracalla, the son of Diocletian, had done the Britons a great service: he made them all free citizens of Rome. This saved them from much oppression; for, by the laws of the Roman empire, every Roman citizen had a right to just treatment, and if injured either in his property or person, he would have a hearing from Roman judges.

But a state of security and peace was not to last long. Very unhappy events continually occurred at Rome. Many of the emperors were bad men. It became a common thing to murder an emperor, and elect another in his place. The newly chosen emperor, if just and good, had enemies among the bad, who watched for their turn to murder him and choose another. Thus there was no peace nor security. "Perhaps there was never any community in the

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world, civilized or semi-civilized, in which the succession to the supreme authority was so utterly without law or rule as the Roman empire."* The distant provinces of Rome followed the example of the capital.

There were men among the soldiers, stationed in various parts of the empire, who, believing that they had as good a right to reign as an emperor who had just been set up at Rome, usurped the imperial title. Some generals did this, and some men from the ranks. The Romans called these pretenders tyrants, using the word not in the meaning we now attach to it, but to signify an illegal claimant. One of the "tyrants became conspicuous in Britain. Carausius had been appointed commander of a fleet to watch the English channel; for the Northmen, who were pirates, were active and bold, and not unfrequently plundered the seacoast towns belonging to the Roman emperor. Carausius was an able commander; but it was said that he imitated the people * Sir Francis Palgrave.