VOLUME 1
man, being forty years in the ecclesiastical function, was condemned to death. At
Nicomedia Lucianus, the elder of Antioch, brought thither, after he had exhibited to
the emperor his apology concerning the doctrine of the Christians, was cast in prison,
and after put to death. In Amasea, a city of Cappadocia, Bringes, the lieutenant of
Maximinus, had at that time the executing of that persecution. At Alexandria, Petrus, a
most worthy bishop, was beheaded, with whom many other Egyptian bishops also
died. Quirinus, the bishop of Scescanus, having a hand-mill tied about his neck, was
thrown headlong from the bridge into the flood, and there a long while floated above
the water; and when he opened his mouth to speak to the lookers on, that they should
not be dismayed with that his punishment, was with much ado drowned. At Rome died
Marcellus the bishop, as saith Platina; also Timotheus the elder, with many other
bishops and priests, were martyred. To conclude, many in sundry places every where
were martyred, whose names the book entitled Fasciculus Temporum declareth, as
Victorianus, Symphorianus, Castorius with his wife, Castulus, Cæsarius, Mennas,
Nobilis, Dorotheus, Gorgonius, Petrus, and other innumerable martyrs, Erasmus,
Bonifacius, Juliana, Cosmas, Damianus, Basiinus, with seven others. Dorothea,
Theophilus, Theodosia Vitalis, Agricola, Acha, Philemon, Hireneus, Januarius, Festus,
Desiderius, Gregorius, Spoletanus, Agapes, Chionia, Hirenea, Theodora, and two
hundred threescore and ten other martyrs. Florianus, Primus, and Felicianus, Vitus and
Modestus, Crescentia, Albinius, Rogatianus, Donatianus, Pancra tius, Catharina,
Magareta, Lucia the virgin, and Antheus the king, with many thousand martyrs more.
Simplicius, Faustinus, Beatrix, Panthaleon, Georgius, Justus, Leocandia, Anthonia,
and other more, (to an infinite number,) suffered martyrdom in this persecution, whose
names God hath written in the book of life. Also Felix, Victor with his parents, Lucia
the widow, Gemenianus, with threescore and nineteen others. Sabinus, Anastasia,
Chrysogonus, Felix, and Audactus, Adrianus, Natholia, Eugenia. Agnes also, when she
was but thirteen years old, was martyred. Eusebius in his eighth book and fifteenth
chapter rehearseth these kinds of torments and punishments; that is to say, fire, wild
beasts, the sword, crucifyings, the bottom of the sea, the cutting and burning of
members, the thrusting out of eyes, dismembering of the whole body, hunger,
imprisonment, and whatsoever other cruelty the magistrates could devise. All which
notwithstanding, the godly ones, rather than that they would do sacrifice, as they were
bid, manfully endured. Neither were the women any thing at all behind them. For they,
being enticed to the filthy use of their bodies, rather suffered banishment, or willingly
killed themselves. Neither yet could the Christians live safely in the wilderness, but
were fetched even from thence to death and torments, insomuch that this was a more
grievous persecution under Maximinus the tyrant, than was the former cruel
persecution under Maximianus the prince.
And forasmuch as ye have heard the cruel edict of Maximinus proclaimed
against the Christians, graven in brass, which he thought perpetually should endure to
the abolishing of Christ and his religion; now mark again the great handiwork of God,
which immediately fell upon the same, checking the proud presumption of the tyrant,
proving all to be false and contrary that in the brazen proclamation was contained. For
where the foresaid edict boasted so much of the prosperity and plenty of all things in
the same time of this persecution of the Christians, suddenly befell such unseasonable
drought, with famine and pestilence, among the people, besides also the wars with the
Annenians, that all was found untrue that he had boasted so much of before. By reason
of which famine and pestilence the people were greatly consumed, insomuch that one
measure of wheat was sold for two thousand and five hundred pieces of money of
Athens coin, by reason whereof innumerable died in the cities, but many more in the
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