168 MATTHEW OP WESTICHTRTEB. A.D. 207. sent to India, to teach the natives, by Demetrius, bishop of Alexandria. And he was the first person who was sent thither; and he founded the church of Christ, by his industry and good example. A.D. 204. Symmachus, the fourth translator of the divine law, flourished. A.D. 205. Severus the emperor transferred the war to the districts of Britain, where he reduced the greater part of the island to obedience to him, by great battles often repeated. But that part of the people whom he could not subdue at the time, he put to flight, and drove across the Deira. And being continually harassed by their formidable rebellions, he often lost great numbers of his men. Therefore, he determined to separate that part of the island which he had reduced, from those tribes who were still unconquered, by fosses and walls, so as to keep off those indomitable enemies at a greater distance from himself. Therefore he constructed a vast dyke, and with a very strong wall, fortified with many towers ; extending a hundred and thirty-two miles in length, from sea to sea, and having stationed garrisons along it, he proceeded to York. A.D. 206. Fulgentius, the leader of the people, who had been put to flight, when he saw that he and Ins troops were cut off by this wall, crossed the sea into Scythia, in hopes, by the assistance of the Picts, to be restored to his former dignity. And when he had collected there all the youth of his country, he returned with a large fleet to Britain, and besieged York. And when news of this event was brought to Severus, he immediately marched his army to the besieged town. And a hard-fought battle took place, and Severus, the emperor, was slain, and Fulgentius was mortally wounded. Severus left two sons, Bassianus and Greta, of whom the Britons elected Bassianus for their king, because he was born of a British mother, and the Romans elected Greta, because he was connected with them on both sides of his house. But the brothers engaged in battle, in which Greta was killed, and Bassianus gained the victory. After that, he marched towards Rome with all speed. A.D. 207. Bassianus Aurelius Antoninus Caracalla gained the sovereign powers ; he reigned seven years, and showed himself in all respects a sterner character than even his father Severus. Moreover, he was so frantic in his lusts, that he married his step-mother Julia.