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nor_o night_n to_o sing_v psalm_n and_o hymn_n in_o the_o agaunian_a monastery_n this_o practice_n have_v be_v establish_v by_o the_o bless_a king_n and_o martyr_n st._n sigismond_n and_o be_v still_o in_o force_n there_o to_o this_o very_a day_n but_o that_o the_o act_n of_o this_o council_n be_v forge_v father_n le_fw-fr cointe_n have_v give_v infallible_a proof_n and_o whereas_o labbe_n and_o cossart_n place_n this_o council_n in_o the_o year_n 516._o we_o shall_v not_o fear_v be_v much_o mistake_v if_o we_o charge_v the_o forgery_n upon_o some_o impostor_n of_o the_o seven_o or_o eight_o century_n for_o these_o and_o the_o like_a write_n be_v the_o title_n and_o foundation_n both_o of_o the_o worship_n vast_a power_n and_o immense_a revenue_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n it_o be_v true_a we_o be_v tell_v that_o the_o manuscript_n of_o these_o thing_n be_v keep_v in_o the_o vatican_n library_n or_o in_o that_o of_o florence_n and_o that_o they_o have_v all_o the_o character_n 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give_v so_o much_o credit_n to_o a_o inscription_n upon_o the_o little_a truck_n in_o which_o be_v suppose_v to_o be_v shut_v up_o the_o relic_n of_o the_o agaunian_a martyr_n now_o from_o st._n martin_n time_n the_o evil_n be_v so_o far_o from_o diminish_v that_o it_o increase_v more_o and_o more_o religion_n and_o piety_n do_v then_o it_o seem_v chief_o consist_v in_o search_v the_o grave_n look_v for_o the_o body_n of_o saint_n erect_v altar_n and_o contrive_v all_o sort_n of_o way_n to_o honour_v they_o the_o six_o age_n have_v bring_v into_o the_o church_n st._n bennet_n and_o his_o rule_n his_o child_n depart_v very_o soon_o from_o the_o institution_n of_o their_o holy_a founder_n apply_v themselves_o whole_o to_o get_v plentiful_a possession_n and_o large_a revenue_n the_o martyr_n their_o relic_n and_o miracle_n be_v the_o proper_a mean_n in_o the_o world_n for_o that_o purpose_n and_o god_n know_v how_o they_o improve_v the_o knack_n they_o have_v already_o get_v of_o make_v use_n of_o they_o for_o it_o be_v certain_a that_o they_o owe_v most_o of_o their_o vast_a income_n and_o estate_n to_o mere_a dream_n and_o chimera_n like_o that_o of_o the_o agaunian_a martyr_n then_o the_o old_a saint_n grow_v out_o of_o date_n and_o new_a one_o come_v in_o fashion_n be_v repute_v to_o exceed_v the_o other_o in_o multiplicity_n of_o miracle_n therefore_o they_o find_v the_o way_n to_o dig_v every_o day_n a_o new_a one_o out_o of_o the_o ground_n as_o if_o the_o priest_n of_o those_o time_n have_v make_v use_n of_o a_o divine_a rod_n to_o find_v out_o body_n of_o saint_n no_o wonder_n therefore_o if_o some_o martyr_n of_o the_o second_o and_o three_o age_n unknown_a to_o eusebius_n orosius_n and_o sulpitius_n severus_n be_v discover_v since_o by_o some_o monk_n of_o the_o eight_o and_o nine_o century_n it_o be_v very_o probable_a if_o i_o may_v give_v my_o opinion_n that_o the_o act_n of_o the_o agaunian_a martyr_n be_v forge_v towards_o the_o end_n of_o the_o six_o age_n or_o at_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o seven_o the_o author_n of_o they_o say_v that_o the_o name_n of_o the_o thebean_a soldier_n be_v write_v in_o heaven_n and_o that_o only_o these_o follow_v be_v come_v to_o his_o knowledge_n viz._n mauritius_n exuper_n candidus_n orsus_fw-la and_o the_o two_o victor_n but_o it_o seem_v not_o long_o after_o some_o other_o begin_v to_o peep_v out_o ado_n archbishop_n of_o vienna_n who_o write_v towards_o the_o middle_n of_o the_o nine_o century_n add_v to_o these_o malosius_n victor_n innocent_n vitalis_n geryon_n alexander_n secundus_fw-la and_o antoninus_n vsuard_v a_o benedictine_n monk_n of_o st._n germane_a have_v the_o good_a luck_n to_o find_v out_o two_o more_o namely_o cassius_n and_o florentius_n in_o the_o archive_v of_o treves_n be_v keep_v the_o history_n of_o st._n thirsus_n wherein_o be_v mention_v another_o thebean_a soldier_n call_v bonifacius_n in_o burgundy_n some_o church_n be_v consecrate_v to_o viator_n and_o st._n amour_n who_o by_o the_o author_n who_o have_v write_v their_o life_n be_v say_v to_o have_v be_v agaunian_a martyr_n so_o that_o we_o see_v already_o fourteen_o or_o fifteen_o of_o they_o who_o be_v not_o come_v to_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o pretend_a st._n eucherius_n but_o further_a discovery_n have_v be_v make_v yet_o for_o one_o day_n tell_v another_o st._n paul_n exhort_v the_o 3._o christian_n to_o seek_v the_o thing_n that_o be_v above_o but_o the_o monk_n of_o the_o ten_o century_n press_v they_o to_o nothing_o so_o much_o as_o to_o look_v into_o the_o thing_n that_o be_v below_o and_o to_o search_v into_o the_o grave_n and_o though_o christ_n have_v say_v speak_v of_o himself_o that_o where_o the_o body_n be_v there_o the_o eagle_n shall_v gather_v also_o yet_o the_o
opportunity_n to_o make_v their_o escape_n seek_v notwithstanding_o for_o death_n christ_n say_v he_o withdraw_v himself_o to_o shun_v the_o malice_n of_o the_o jew_n who_o lay_v in_o wait_n for_o he_o and_o though_o he_o know_v that_o the_o time_n appoint_v in_o the_o counsel_n of_o his_o father_n be_v not_o far_o off_o he_o go_v not_o in_o search_n after_o his_o cross_n but_o wait_v for_o it_o from_o the_o fury_n of_o the_o jew_n in_o a_o solitary_a place_n whither_o he_o do_v retire_v and_o when_o he_o foretell_v his_o apostle_n of_o all_o the_o persecution_n they_o be_v to_o suffer_v for_o his_o name_n sake_n he_o tell_v they_o that_o they_o shall_v be_v deliver_v to_o the_o council_n and_o synagogue_n whereupon_o this_o bishop_n observe_v that_o christ_n say_v they_o shall_v deliver_v you_o and_o not_o you_o shall_v deliver_v yourselves_o 864._o for_o this_o reason_n mr._n de_fw-fr tillemont_n in_o his_o history_n of_o the_o emperor_n make_v this_o wise_a observation_n speak_v of_o the_o act_n of_o st._n maximus_n that_o these_o act_n do_v appear_v very_o well_o deserve_v the_o esteem_n which_o baronius_n have_v for_o they_o though_o they_o do_v express_v that_o this_o saint_n deliver_v himself_o to_o death_n which_o be_v more_o usual_o see_v in_o spurious_a 13._o than_o in_o true_a acts._n in_o short_a one_o may_v see_v what_o be_v the_o moral_n of_o the_o ancient_a church_n about_o this_o thing_n from_o a_o canon_n of_o the_o council_n of_o eliberis_n and_o from_o a_o special_a place_n in_o st._n austin_n and_o the_o same_o moral_n may_v be_v see_v practise_v in_o the_o live_v of_o st._n cyprian_a and_o athanasius_n who_o flee_v from_o persecution_n whenever_o god_n give_v they_o opportunity_n to_o do_v it_o all_o the_o business_n be_v then_o to_o examine_v whether_o the_o thebean_a soldier_n be_v inform_v of_o the_o emperor_n resolution_n may_v have_v prevent_v it_o by_o their_o flight_n and_o for_o the_o clear_n of_o this_o point_n we_o need_v only_o 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into_o their_o duty_n the_o legion_n with_o a_o undaunted_a courage_n suffer_v the_o decimation_n and_o the_o minister_n who_o execute_v the_o emperor_n order_n make_v their_o report_n to_o he_o that_o the_o rebellious_a legion_n be_v nothing_o fright_v by_o this_o exemplary_a punishment_n but_o persist_v in_o their_o obstinate_a resolution_n not_o to_o march._n during_o all_o this_o while_n the_o army_n be_v not_o see_v to_o come_v back_o in_o order_n to_o observe_v the_o motion_n of_o this_o legion_n neither_o be_v it_o observe_v that_o the_o emperor_n do_v command_v any_o troop_n to_o watch_v they_o for_o prevent_v the_o ill_a effect_n of_o their_o mutinous_a disposition_n it_o be_v very_o natural_a to_o think_v that_o if_o the_o whole_a legion_n be_v not_o able_a to_o save_v all_o their_o life_n part_n of_o they_o at_o least_o may_v have_v get_v away_o and_o yet_o it_o be_v say_v in_o the_o act_n that_o not_o so_o much_o as_o one_o of_o they_o do_v escape_v the_o emperor_n cruelty_n whatever_o care_n be_v now_o take_v to_o hinder_v the_o desertion_n in_o a_o army_n all_o the_o diligence_n and_o watchfulness_n of_o the_o officer_n can_v hinder_v a_o great_a many_o soldier_n to_o run_v away_o from_o their_o colour_n every_o campaign_n and_o what_o be_v yet_o worth_a our_o observation_n be_v that_o the_o situation_n of_o agaunum_n afford_v great_a facility_n to_o the_o thebean_a soldier_n to_o flee_v away_o for_o their_o safety_n i_o have_v pass_v myself_o that_o way_n when_o i_o go_v with_o the_o corpse_n of_o duke_n schomberg_n from_o turin_n to_o lauzane_n where_o he_o have_v order_v i_o to_o bury_v he_o and_o have_v then_o some_o thought_n of_o this_o dissertation_n i_o stay_v a_o good_a while_n to_o consider_v the_o â—venues_n and_o situation_n of_o agaunum_n it_o be_v seat_v at_o the_o bottom_n and_o further_a end_n of_o a_o very_a narrow_a valley_n and_o there_o be_v no_o access_n to_o it_o but_o by_o continual_a defile_v have_v on_o both_o side_n wood_n and_o high_a mountain_n so_o that_o have_v the_o thebean_a soldier_n take_v advantage_n from_o the_o place_n the_o whole_a army_n of_o the_o emperor_n have_v not_o be_v able_a to_o have_v hinder_v the_o great_a part_n of_o they_o from_o make_v their_o escape_n from_o this_o we_o may_v conclude_v that_o the_o author_n of_o their_o act_n have_v not_o much_o observe_v the_o rule_n of_o probability_n in_o the_o romance_n he_o have_v leave_v we_o since_o he_o say_v that_o all_o the_o thebean_a soldier_n be_v massacre_v not_o one_o of_o they_o care_v to_o make_v his_o escape_n but_o all_o with_o one_o accord_n cheerful_o hold_v up_o their_o neck_n and_o wish_v for_o nothing_o so_o much_o as_o the_o glory_n of_o martyrdom_n chap._n xii_o that_o there_o be_v no_o likelihood_n that_o a_o legion_n shall_v be_v send_v for_o from_o the_o east_n to_o suppress_v a_o tumult_n of_o the_o gaul_n we_o have_v hitherto_o consider_v the_o martyrdom_n of_o the_o thebean_a legion_n with_o relation_n both_o to_o the_o act_n wherein_o it_o be_v contain_v and_o to_o the_o author_n to_o who_o these_o act_n be_v attribute_v it_o be_v time_n now_o to_o come_v to_o the_o fact_n itself_o and_o to_o treat_v it_o without_o any_o regard_n either_o to_o the_o act_n or_o their_o author_n father_n le_fw-fr 636._o cointe_n think_v in_o his_o annal_n to_o salve_v both_o the_o martyrdom_n of_o the_o thebean_a legion_n and_o the_o relation_n of_o their_o passion_n by_o betake_v himself_o to_o the_o act_n and_o to_o the_o copy_n of_o father_n chifflet_n we_o do_v not_o deny_v say_v he_o that_o the_o act_n of_o the_o martyr_n of_o agaunum_n be_v write_v by_o st._n eucherius_n bishop_n of_o lion_n but_o we_o say_v that_o those_o publish_v by_o surius_n and_o which_o be_v find_v in_o the_o manuscript_n of_o most_o church_n be_v spurious_a and_o false_o attribute_v to_o st._n eucherius_n we_o acknowledge_v none_o to_o be_v true_a beside_o those_o publish_v by_o francis_n chifflet_n in_o his_o paulinus_n illustratus_fw-la and_o the_o which_o he_o have_v extract_v out_o of_o a_o very_a ancient_a manuscript_n of_o st._n claud'_v monastery_n and_o we_o believe_v st._n eucherius_n to_o be_v the_o true_a father_n of_o that_o work_n but_o whether_o st._n eucherius_n be_v the_o author_n of_o that_o work_n or_o whether_o he_o be_v not_o whether_o the_o act_n be_v falsify_v in_o the_o copy_n of_o surius_n and_o whether_o they_o be_v true_a in_o father_n chifflet_n manuscript_n this_o be_v now_o no_o more_o the_o matter_n in_o question_n we_o have_v hitherto_o in_o a_o manner_n attack_v only_o the_o outwork_n but_o we_o come_v now_o close_o to_o the_o fact_n and_o will_v show_v in_o it_o palpable_a character_n of_o falsity_n acciti_fw-la the_o first_o of_o which_o be_v this_o supposition_n namely_o that_o the_o emperor_n maximian_n cause_v a_o legion_n to_o be_v put_v death_n which_o he_o have_v send_v for_o from_o the_o east_n to_o go_v with_o he_o into_o gaul_n we_o do_v deny_v but_o there_o be_v in_o the_o east_n some_o legion_n call_v thebean_o in_o the_o book_n we_o have_v already_o cite_v of_o the_o dignity_n of_o the_o empire_n mention_n be_v make_v of_o four_o thebean_a legion_n sub_fw-la dispositione_n viri_fw-la illustris_fw-la magistri_fw-la militum_fw-la per_fw-la orientem_fw-la legiones_fw-la comitatense_n 9_o secunda_fw-la flavia_n constantia_n thebaeorum_n secunda_fw-la fellix_fw-la valentis_fw-la thebaeorum_n and_o in_o another_o chapter_n sub_fw-la dispositione_n viri_fw-la illustris_fw-la magistri_fw-la militum_fw-la per_fw-la thracias_fw-la legiones_fw-la comitatense_n prima_fw-la maximiana_n thebaeorum_n tertia_fw-la diocletiana_n thebaeorum_n abcuntem_fw-la we_o will_v not_o deny_v neither_o but_o that_o the_o exigency_n of_o the_o empire_n call_v maximian_n into_o gaul_n the_o emperor_n may_v have_v be_v attend_v by_o some_o of_o those_o legion_n they_o be_v all_o four_o number_v amog_v those_o legion_n