si oéU n'est pas, ' if this is not a fact

281. Légion thébaine. The 'Theban Légion/ so called because levied first in the Thebaid (Egypt), was made up entirely of Christians, and was 10,000 strong. On being sent to défend Gaul against Gennan inroads, tbey advanced to Martigny, where Maximian ordered a great sacrifice to the Pagan gods, in which the Theban Légion were ordered to join. They refused, and were decimated, but still refused through their spokesman (Saint) Maurice, who said, * We were soldiers of Christ before we were yours ; we hâve made our oaths to God before we swore them to you.' They were slain to a man, a.d. 284.

The story is probably apocryphal ; for, first, Diocletian and Maximian were too polite to order such a massacre, and the Christians enjoyed comparative peace under their joint reign ; and, secondly, no Roman gênerai w^m/e/ kill a légion of hisbest men, just before a battle, even if he cauld,

281-2. Tons dont . . . Serment, ' you who gave your heads to be crushed upon the altar of your oaths.'