OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XI/Sulpitius Severus/Sacred History/Book II/Chapter 28

Chapter XXVIII.
Luke made known the doings of the apostles up to the time when Paul was brought to Rome under the emperor Nero. As to Nero, I shall not say that he was the worst of kings, but that he was worthily held the basest of all men, and even of wild beasts. It was he who first began a persecution; and I am not sure but he will be the last also to carry it on, if, indeed, we admit, as many are inclined to believe, that he will yet appear immediately before the coming of Antichrist. Our subject would induce me to set forth his vices at some length, if it were not inconsistent with the purpose of this work to enter upon so vast a topic. I content myself with the remark, that he showed himself in every way most abominable and cruel, and at length even went so far as to be the murderer of his own mother. After this, he also married a certain Pythagoras in the style of solemn alliances, the bridal veil being put upon the emperor, while the usual dowry, and the marriage couch, and wedding torches, and, in short, all the other observances were forthcoming—things which even in the case of women, are not looked upon without some feeling of modesty. But as to his other actions, I doubt whether the description of them would excite greater shame or sorrow. He first attempted to abolish the name of Christian, in accordance with the fact that vices are always inimical to virtues, and that all good men are ever regarded by the wicked as casting reproach upon them. For, at that time, our divine religion had obtained a wide prevalence in the city. Peter was there executing the office of bishop, and Paul, too, after he had been brought to Rome, on appealing to Cæsar from the unjust judgment of the governor. Multitudes then came together to hear Paul, and these, influenced by the truth which they were given to know, and by the miracles of the apostles, which they then so frequently performed, turned to the worship of God. For then took place the well-known and celebrated encounter of Peter and Paul with Simon. He, after he had flown up into the air by his magical arts, and supported by two demons (with the view of proving that he was a god), the demons being put to flight by the prayers of the apostles, fell to the earth in the sight of all the people, and was dashed to pieces.

## Footnotes

* ↑ “virtutibus.”
* ↑ Generally spoken of as Simon Magus.
# Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XI/Sulpitius Severus/Sacred History/Book II/Chapter 29

Chapter XXIX.
In the meantime, the number of the Christians being now very large, it happened that Rome was destroyed by fire, while Nero was stationed at Antium. But the opinion of all cast the odium of causing the fire upon the emperor, and he was believed in this way to have sought for the glory of building a new city. And in fact, Nero could not by any means he tried
escape from the charge that the fire had been caused by his orders. He therefore turned the accusation against the Christians, and the most cruel tortures were accordingly inflicted upon the innocent. Nay, even new kinds of death were invented, so that, being covered in the skins of wild beasts, they perished by being devoured by dogs, while many were crucified or slain by fire, and not a few were set apart for this purpose, that, when the day came to a close, they should be consumed to serve for light during the night. In this way, cruelty first began to be manifested against the Christians. Afterwards, too, their religion was prohibited by laws which were enacted; and by edicts openly set forth it was proclaimed unlawful to be a Christian. At that time Paul and Peter were condemned to death, the former being beheaded with a sword, while Peter suffered crucifixion. And while these things went on at Rome, the Jews, not able to endure the injuries they suffered under the rule of Festus Florus, began to rebel. Vespasian, being sent by Nero against them, with proconsular power, defeated them in numerous important battles, and compelled them to flee within the walls of Jerusalem. In the meanwhile Nero, now hateful even to himself from a consciousness of his crimes, disappears from among men, leaving it uncertain whether or not he had laid violent hands upon himself: certainly his body was never found. It was accordingly believed that, even if he did put an end to himself with a sword, his wound was cured, and his life preserved, according to that which was written regarding him,—“And his mortal wound was healed,”—to be sent forth again near the end of the world, in order that he may practice the mystery of iniquity.

## Footnotes

* ↑ “humanis rebus eximitur.”
* ↑ Rev. xiii. 3.
# Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XI/Sulpitius Severus/Sacred History/Book II/Chapter 22

Chapter XXII.
Judah, on the defeat of the enemy, returned to Jerusalem, and bent his mind on the purification and restoration of the temple, which having been overthrown by Antiochus, and profaned by the Gentiles, presented a melancholy spectacle. But as the Syrians held the citadel, which being connected with the temple, but standing above it in position, was really impregnable, the lower parts proved inaccessible, as frequent sallies from above prevented persons from approaching them. But Judah placed against these assailants a very powerful body of his men. Thus the work of the sacred building was protected, and the temple was surrounded with a wall, while armed men were appointed to maintain a perpetual defence. And Lysias, having again returned into Judæa with increased forces, was once more defeated with a great loss both of his own army and of the auxiliaries, which being sent to him by various states had combined with him in the war. In the meantime, Antiochus, who, as we have said above, had marched into Persia, endeavored to plunder the town of Elymus, the wealthiest in the country, and a temple situated there which was filled with gold; but, as a multitude flocked together from all sides for the defense of the place, he was put to flight. Moreover, he received news of the want of success which had attended the efforts of Lysias. Thus, from distress of mind, he fell into bodily disease. But as he was then tormented with internal sufferings, he remembered the miseries which he had inflicted on the people of God, and acknowledged that these evils had deservedly been sent upon him. Then, after a few days, he died, having reigned eleven years. He left the kingdom to his son Antiochus, to whom the name of Eupator was given.

## Footnotes

* ↑ Some add the words, “or of Lysimachus,” but this appears to have been a gloss.
# Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XI/Sulpitius Severus/Sacred History/Book II/Chapter 23

Chapter XXIII.
At that time Judah besieged the Syrians who were posted in the citadel. They, being sore pressed with famine and want of all things, sent messengers to the king to implore assistance. Accordingly, Eupator came to their aid with a hundred thousand infantry and twenty thousand cavalry, while elephants marched in front of his line, causing immense terror to the onlookers. Then Judah, abandoning the siege, went to meet the king, and routed the Syrians in the first battle. The king begged for peace, which, because he, with his treacherous disposition, made a bad use of, vengeance followed his treachery. For Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, who, we have said above, was handed over as a hostage to the Romans, when he heard that Antiochus had departed, begged that they would send him to take possession of the kingdom. And when this was refused to him, he secretly fled from Rome, came into Syria, and seized the supreme power, having slain the son of Antiochus, who had reigned one year and six months. It was during his reign that the Jews first begged the friendship of the Roman people, and alliance with them; and the embassy to this effect having been kindly received, they were, by a decree of the senate, styled allies and friends. In the meantime Demetrius was, by means of his generals, carrying on war against Judah. And first the army was led by a certain man named Bacchides, and by Alcimus, a Jew; Nicanor, being afterwards placed at the head of the war, fell in battle. Then Bacchides and Alcimus, recovering power, and having increased their forces, fought against Judah. The Syrians, turning out victorious in that battle, cruelly abused their victory. The Hebrews elect Jonathan, the brother of Judah, in his place. In the meantime, Alcimus, after he had fearfully desolated Jerusalem, dies; Bacchides, being thus deprived of his ally, returns to the king. Then, after an interval of two years, Bacchides again made war upon the Jews, and being beaten, he
begged for peace. This was granted him certain conditions, to the effect that he should give up the deserters and prisoners, along with all that he had taken in war.

## Footnotes

* ↑ The text is here in utter confusion; we have followed that suggested by Vorstius.
# Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XI/Sulpitius Severus/Sacred History/Book II/Chapter 24

Chapter XXIV.
While these things are going on in Judæa, a certain young man educated at Rhodes, by name Alexander, gave himself out as being the son of Antiochus (which was false), and assisted by the power of Ptolemy, king of Alexandria, came into Syria with an army. He conquered Demetrius in war, and slew him after he had reigned twelve years. This Alexander before he made war against Demetrius, had formed an alliance with Jonathan, and had presented him with a purple robe and royal ensigns. For this reason Jonathan had assisted him with auxiliary forces; and on the defeat of Demetrius, had been the very first to meet him with congratulations. Nor did Alexander afterwards violate the faith which he had pledged. Accordingly, in the five years during which he held the chief power, the affairs of the Jews were peaceful. In these circumstances, Demetrius, the son of Demetrius, who, after the death of his father, had betaken himself to Crete, at the instigation of Lasthenes, general of the Cretans, tried by war to recover the kingdom of his, father, but finding his power unequal to the task, he implored Ptolemy Philometor, king of Egypt, the father-in-law of Alexander, but who was then on bad terms with his son-in-law, to give him assistance. But he, induced not so much by the entreaties of the suppliant as by the hope of seizing Syria, joined his forces with those of Demetrius, and gives him his daughter, who had been married to Alexander. Against these two Alexander fought a pitched battle. Ptolemy fell in the fight, but Alexander was defeated; and he was soon afterwards slain, after he had reigned five, or as I find it stated in many authors, nine years.
# Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XI/Sulpitius Severus/Sacred History/Book II/Chapter 25

Chapter XXV.
Demetrius, having thus obtained the kingdom, treated Jonathan with kindness, made a treaty with him, and restored the Jews to their own laws. In the meantime, Tryphon, who had belonged to the party of Alexander, was appointed governor of Syria, to keep him in check by war. Jonathan, on the other hand, descended to battle, formidable with an army of forty thousand men. Tryphon, when he saw himself unequal to the contest, pretended a desire for peace, and slew Ptolemais who had been received and invited into friendship with him. After Jonathan, the chief power was conferred on his brother Simon. He celebrated the funeral of his brother with great pomp, and built those well-known seven pyramids of most noble workmanship, in which he buried the remains both of his brothers and of his father. Then Demetrius renewed his treaty with the Jews; and in consideration of the loss caused to them by Tryphon (for after the death of Jonathan he had wasted by war their cities and territories), he remitted to them their annual tribute forever; for up to that time, they had paid tribute to the kings of Syria, except when they resisted by force of arms. That took place in the second year of king Demetrius; and we have noted that, because up to this year we have run through the times of the Asiatic kings, that the series of dates being given in order might be perfectly clear. But now we shall arrange the order of events through the times of those, who were either high-priests or kings among the Jews, up to the period of the birth of Christ.

## Footnotes

* ↑ Some words have here been lost, but the critics are not agreed as to what should be supplied.
* ↑ As Vorstius suggests, we have here taken Jonathan as a nominative, but the passage is very obscure.
# Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XI/Sulpitius Severus/Sacred History/Book II/Chapter 26

Chapter XXVI.
Well, then, after Jonathan, his brother Simon, as has been said above, ruled over the Hebrews with the power of high-priest. For that honor was then bestowed upon him both by his own countrymen and by the Roman people. He began to rule over his countrymen in the second year of king Demetrius, but eight years afterwards, being deceived by a plot of Ptolemy, he met his death. He was succeeded by his son John. And he, on the ground that he had fought with distinction against the Hyrcani, a very powerful nation, received the surname of Hyrcanus. He died, after having held the supreme power for twenty-six years. After him, Aristobulus being appointed high-priest, was the first of all living after the captivity to assume the name of king, and to have a crown placed upon his head. At the close of a year, he died. Then Alexander, his son, who was both king and high-priest, reigned twenty-seven years; but I have found nothing in his doings worthy of mention, except his cruelty. He having left two young sons named Aristobulus and Hyrcanus, Salina or Alexandra, his wife, held the sovereignty for three years. After his decease, frightful conflicts about the supreme power arose between the two brothers. And first of all, Hyrcanus held the government; but being by and by defeated by his brother Aristobulus, he
fled to Pompey. That Roman general, having finished the war with Mithridates, and settled Armenia and Pontus, being, in fact, the conqueror of all the nations which he had visited, desired to march inwards, and to add all the neighboring regions to the Roman empire. He therefore inquired into the causes of the war, and the means of obtaining the mastery. Accordingly he readily received Hyrcanus, and, under his guidance, attacked the Jews; but when the city was taken and destroyed, he spared the temple. He sent Aristobulus in chains to Rome, and restored the right of the high-priesthood to Hyrcanus. Settling the tribute to be paid by the Jews, he placed over them as governor a certain Antipater of Askelon. Hyrcanus held the chief power for thirty-four years; but while he carried on war against the Parthians, he was taken prisoner.

## Footnotes

* ↑ “Introrsum,” towards home; another reading is “ultrorsum,” farther onwards.
* ↑ “vincendi”: others read “incendii.”
# Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XI/Sulpitius Severus/Sacred History/Book II/Chapter 27

Chapter XXVII.
Then Herod, a foreigner, the son of Antipater of Askelon, asked and received the sovereignty of Judæa from the senate and people of Rome. Under him, the Jews began for the first time to have a foreigner as king. For as now the advent of Christ was at hand, it was necessary, according to the predictions of the prophets, that they should be deprived of their own rulers, that they might not look for anything beyond Christ. Under this Herod, in the thirty-third year of his reign, Christ was born on the twenty-fifth of December in the consulship of Sabinus and Rufinus. But we do not venture to touch on these things which are contained in the Gospels, and subsequently in the Acts of the Apostles, lest the character of our condensed work should, in any measure, detract from the dignity of the events; and I shall proceed to what remains. Herod reigned four years after the birth of the Lord; for the whole period of his reign comprised thirty-seven years. After him, came Archelaus the tetrarch, for eight years, and Herod for twenty-four years. Under him, in the eighteenth year of his reign, the Lord was crucified, Fufius Geminus and Rubellius Geminus being consuls; from which date up to the consulship of Stilico, there have elapsed three hundred and seventy-two years.
# Notable South Australians/Hon. A. B. Murray, M.L.C.

Layout 2
# Notable South Australians/Hon. George Hall, M.L.C.

Layout 2
Hon. George Hall, M.L.C.,
BORN at Bromley, Kent, March 2, 1811, died at Mitcham, S.A., January 28, 1867, aged 55 years. He entered the mercantile navy at an early age, and was still young when he obtained the command of a ship. He was chiefly engaged in the East and West India trade, and continued in it till 1842, when he settled in South Australia. He first entered into pastoral pursuits near Angaston, but soon relinquished these to start in business at Port Adelaide. In July 1851, at the first general election for the single House which then formed the Legislative Council of South Australia, he was elected for the Port, and in March 1857 was further elected a member of the Upper House, a position he retained until his death. Mr. Hall held several important offices in the community, and as a director of the Burra and other mining companies, and as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, his name will still be familiar to many. In 1860, finding his health failing, he retired from business, and in 1865 paid a visit to England. He returned to the colony in 1866, not much improved by his trip, and soon after succumbed to his fate.
# Notable South Australians/Hon. Henry Mildred, M.L.C.

Layout 2
​ ​year was appointed a Justice of the Peace, to which, in 1858, was added that of Special Magistrate. On the establishment of Representative Government, in 1851, Mr. Mildred was a candidate for the Legislative Council, but was not returned. In 1857, he was a candidate for the district of Noarlunga in the Assembly, and was returned; and in April, 1860, he was returned for East Torrens at the head of the poll. Two years later he was again elected as member for East Torrens, the number of candidates being three, as on former occasions. In 1866 three vacancies occurred in the Legislative Council, when Mr. Mildred, with ten other candidates, went to the poll. The contest was severe, but he was placed second on the list, having polled 2,024 votes. He retained his seat until the year 1871, when it became vacant by efflux of time, after which he lived in retirement. At his death he had attained the ripe age of 82 years. His public career was that of a thoroughly independent and honest man; his character was irreproachable, and to this may be added, he left no enemies. Mr. Mildred left two sons and a daughter; the eldest, Hiram Mildred, lately a member of the City Council; the second, Henry, who some years ago represented East Torrens in Parliament, is a solicitor in Adelaide; and the daughter is the wife of Mr. J. Varley, S.M., of Kapunda.
# Notable South Australians/Hiram Mildred, J.P.

Layout 2
Hiram Mildred, J.P.,
BORN at Portsea, England; eldest son of the Hon. Henry Mildred, M.L.C., and one of the four remaining old colonists who arrived in South Australia with Colonel Light in the surveying brig "Rapid," August 18th, 1836. After visiting Sydney he spent his early years in pastoral and agricultural pursuits. In 1844-5-6 he was in the Customs and agency business at Port Adelaide with the late W. R. S. Cooke, and joined in the exodus to the Victorian gold diggings in February 1862. Returning to Adelaide at the end of the same year, he spent some time in farming; but finding this unprofitable he settled at Goolwa in the milling and general agency business. In 1858 he received an appointment under the S. A. Government as Sub-Collector of Customs at Port Augusta, to which were afterwards added those of Harbour Master, Superintendent Mercantile Marine, Clerk of Local Court, Chairman of Destitute Board, District ​Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Secretary, Cashier, and Accountant of the North District Road Board, and several other subsidiary offices. These he resigned in 1877, after close upon twenty years' service, and now resides in North Adelaide. As one of the surviving quintette of the party who pitched the first tent where Adelaide now stands, and who has "borne the heat and burden of the day," Mr. Mildred deserves more than a passing notice. Few officials in the S. A. Civil Service have held at one time and conducted satisfactorily so many appointments as he. In addition to this, he, with his late wife (daughter of the Rev. Henry Cheetham), was instrumental in raising the first established church and Sunday-school in Port Augusta. In 1881 Mr. Mildred contested an aldermanship for the city, but was beaten by a small majority. In 1882-3-4 he was elected for two years as councillor for Robe Ward. Standing again for alderman, he was defeated a second time. At an advanced age, he possesses more activity than many younger men, and his physique, after an almost continuous residence of forty-nine years, is indicative of the healthy character of our South Australian climate.
# Notable South Australians/Hon. G. W. Cotton, M.L.C.

Layout 2
Hon. G. W. Cotton, M.L.C.
# Notable South Australians/Hon. Anthony Forster, M.L.C.

Layout 2
Hon. Anthony Forster, M.L.C.,
WAS for twelve years managing proprietor of the S. A. Register and Observer newspapers, but severed his connection with those journals on October 1, 1864. His connection with the Press had a beneficial influence on journalism in South Australia, his constant aim being to keep it free from scurrility, personal or party feelings, and in this he, to a great extent, succeeded. His career as a politician dates from 1855, when he entered the old Legislative Council as member for West Adelaide; and on all occasions he held a straightforward course. Liberal in opinions, though not always on the popular side, Mr. Forster invariably acted for the public good. His exertions relative to the Heal Property Act were unwearied, and he was a strong advocate of that measure and assisted Mr. Torrens in bringing his proposed reform of the law under the notice of the colonists. The Bill, as will be remembered, was carried through the Legislative Council in the face of much opposition. His duties as a parliamentary representative were discharged with zeal and ability; as a public man he served the colony well, whilst as a private citizen he left behind, in various directions, many warm friends. Mr. Forster is a native of Northumberland, and was born in 1813; he arrived in South Australia in 1841, and left it in November 1864. He is now located in England, but, as heretofore, is greatly interested in all that concerns the colony.