lions were let loose upon the disciples of Jesus?

Moreover, it is generally known that the Romans were indifferent to
religious propaganda, and never persecuted any sect or party in the
name of religion. In Rome, the Jews were free to be Jews; why should
the Jewish Christians--and the early Christians were Jews--have been
thrown to the lions? In all probability the persecutions were much
milder than the Tacitus passage describes, and politics was the real
cause.

Until not very long ago, it was universally believed that William Tell
was a historical character. But it is now proven beyond any reasonable
doubt, that Tell and his apple are altogether mythical.
Notwithstanding that a great poet has made him the theme of a powerful
drama, and a great composer devoted one of his operas to his heroic
achievements; notwithstanding also that the Swiss show the crossbow
with which he is supposed to have shot at the apple on his son's head--he
is now admitted to be only a legendary hero. The principal arguments
which have led the educated world to revise its views concerning William
Tell are that, the Swiss historians, Faber and Hamurbin, who lived shortly
after the "hero," and who wrote the history of their country, as Josephus
did that of his, do not mention Tell. Had such a man existed before their
time, they could not have failed to refer to him. Their complete silence
is damaging beyond help to the historicity of Tell. Neither does the
historian, who was an eye witness of the battle of Morgarten in 1315,
mention the name of Tell. The Zurich Chronicle of 1497, also omits to
refer to his story. In the accounts of the struggle of the Swiss against
Austria, which drove the former into rebellion and ultimate independence,
Tell's name cannot be found. Yet all these arguments are not half so
damaging to the William Tell story, as the silence of Josephus is to the