Abridgment of the Book of Acts and Monuments by Timothy Bright, Volume 1 · Book 1 · Persecution 7
The ſeuenth Perſecution.
DEcius hauing ſlayn the former Emperours inuaded the crowne the yéere 250. by whom through enuie & hatred as is aboue ſaid, was moued a terrible perſecution againſt the Chriſtians.
Fabian.Fabian aboue mentioned, was made Biſhoppe of Rome after Anterius, by the flying and lighting of a Doue vponupon his head in the congregation, which was minded to elect ſome noble perſonage of Rome. He ſate 13. yeres, or as other ſay 14. & was put to death by Decius, who alſo cauſed to bée proclaimed in al quarters the deſtruction of Chriſtians.
To this Decius Origen wrote of the rightneſſe of his faith: he continued two and fifty yéeres in great labours of teaching, and writing, and ſuſtained diuers gieuous perſecutions, but eſpecially vnderunder Decius: vnderunder whom hauing ſuffred bands, torments, rackings, with bars of yron, dungeons, beſides terrible threats of death, and burning, at length was brought to an altar, where a foule filthy Ethiope was appointed to be, and there this choiſe was offered him, whether he would ſacrifice to the Idoll, or hauehave his body polluted with that foule and ougly Ethyope. Origen made choyſe rather to doe ſacrifice:Origen ſacrificeth. for the which impietie, hée was after excommunicated by the Church. Epiphanius writeth, that he being vrged to ſacrifice to Idols, and taking the bones in his hand, wherewith the heathen were wont to honour their goddes, called vponupon the Chriſtians to carrie them in honour of Chriſt: which fact the Churche of Alexandria miſliking, remooued him from their communion.Origen excommunicated. Wherevpon Origen driuen away with ſhame, went into Iurie, where being in Hieruſalem among the congregation, and there requeſted of the miniſters to make ſome exhortation in the Church, refuſed a great while ſo to doe: but at length through importunitie, he turned the booke as though hée woulde hauehave expounded ſome place of Scripture, and read the verſe of the 49. Pſalme. But God ſaide to the ſinner, why doeſt thou preach my iuſtifications? and why doeſt thou take my teſtament in thy mouth? &c. Which verſe hauing read, hée ſhut the booke, and ſate downe, wéeping and wayling, the whole congregation alſo wéeping and lamenting with him.Origen repenteth.
Suidas ſaith, Origen was buried at Tirus. Euſebius ſaith he died vnderunder ye Emperor Gallus, about the yéere two hundred fiftie and fiue, and the thrée ſcore and ten yeares of his age, in great miſerie and pouertie. In the time of Antoninus Carocalla, Origen had a notable man Heracleas Heracleas.his vſher in the ſchoole of Alexandria, who after in the tenth yeare of Alexander, Origen departing vntounto Ceſaria, ſuccéeded him in the gouernment of the ſchoole of Alexandria. This Heracleas alſo ſuccéeded after the death of Demetrius to be Biſhop of Alexandria, in the tyme of the Emperour Gordianus: in which function he continued ſixtéene yéeres.
After Heracleas, ſuccéeded Dyoniſius Alexandrinus. Heracleas was no martyr, but died thrée yéeres before Decius, anno 250. vnderunder whom Dionyſius Alexandrinus Dionyſius. Alexandrinus.ſuffered much.
The perſecutions vnderunder Decius were ſo cruel, yt Niceph. faith, it were as poſſible to number the ſand of the ſea, as to recite their names yt ſuffred.Cruel perſecution. Of the which perſecution vnderunder the Emperor, the chief doers were, Optimus the vnderconſul, Secundianus, Verianus, Marcellinus, &c.
In the time of Decius, Alexander Alexander.was B. of Hieruſalem, where he continued a very aged man about the terme of xl. yeres, till the 1. yere of Decius. At what time (being brought from Ieruſalem to Ceſarea) he died in priſon. After whom ſuccéeded Mezananes, Mezananes.the xxxvj. Biſhop of that citie, after Iames the Apoſtle.
VnderUnder this Decius, Babylas, B. of Antioch, who ſuccéeded zebinus, died in priſon, which followed after Philetus, an. 232. and ſate xij. yeres. Which Philetus ſuccéeded Aſclepiades, after Serapion, an. 214 and ſate vij. yeres.
Babilas, becauſe he reſiſted a certaine Emperour, who had moſt cruelly ſlaine (againſt his promis) a kinges ſonne, whom he receiued in Hoſtage, and woulde not ſuffer him to enter the tēple of the chriſtians, was by him put to death.
In the raigne of Conſtantinus, afterward Gallus then made ouerſeer of the Eaſt parts, cauſed the body of Babylas to be tranſlated into the ſuburbes of Antioch called Daphnes: where was an oracle of Apollo, which after the bringing in of the body of Babylas, ceaſſed to giuegive anſwere, alleging his body to be the cauſe: and ſo it continued til the time of Iulianus, who therefore cauſed it to be remoued away by the Chriſtians: which was no ſooner departed the temple, but the temple was conſumed with fire. This Babylas is mentioned of Chryſoſtom who is like to be another, diuerſe from him that died. In Decius time Nicephorus in his fifth booke, maketh mention of an other Babylas beſides this that was Biſhoppe of Nicomedia, and ſuffered vnderunder Decius.
In theſe times in the Citie of Antioch ſuffered fourtie Virginsxl. Virgins. in the daies of Decius. In Phrigia ſuffered one Peter Peter.in the Towne of Lampſur, vnderunder Optimus the Proconſul. In Troada alſo other martyrs ſuffered, whoſe names were, Andrew, Andrew,Paul, Paul.Nichomachus, Nichomach.and Dioniſia Dionyſia.a Virgin. Alſo in Babylonia, diuers Chriſtian Confeſſors were founde by Decius, and were ledde away into Spaine, there to be executed.
In the Countrie of Cappadocia at the citie of Ceſarea, Germanus, Germanus.Theophilus, Theophilus.Ceſarius, Ceſarius.& Vitalis, Vitalis.ſuffered martirdome, Likewiſe Polichronius Polychronius.Biſhop of Babylon, and Neſtor, Neſtor.in Pāphilia, Biſhop of the ſame place. At Perſida, in ye Towne of Cardala ſuffered Olimpiades Olympiades.and Maximus. Maximus.In Tyrus, Anatolia, Anatolia.a Virgin, and Audax, Audax,gaue their liues for the faith.
In theſe times, diuers ſuffered diuerſly in Alexandria, a whole yeare before any Proclamation, by reaſon of a Soothſayer,Soothſayers. which ſtirred vp the people. Who firſt flying vponupon a Prieſt, called Metra, Metra.apprehended him, and layde vponupon him with ſtaues and clubbes, and with ſharpe réedes pricked his face, and eyes, and afterwarde in the Suburbes ſtoned him to death. Then tooke they Quinta, a faithfull woman, and bound her féete, and drew her through the ſtréetes, vponupon the harde ſtones. And ſo (daſhing her againſt the milſtones) and ſcourging her with whips, ſlue her in the Suburbes of the Citie. This done, they ſpoyled all the Chriſtians, who auoided the City, and tooke the loſſe patiently. Among other that were taken there was one Apollonia, Apollonia.an auncient Virgin, whom they brought forth, and daſhing al her téeth out of her iawes, made a great fire before the Citie, threatning to caſt her into the ſame, except ſhe would denie Chriſt. Whereat ſhe ſtaying a while, as one that would take a pauſe, ſodainly leapt into the middeſt of the fire, and ſo was burned.
They alſo tooke one Serapion, Serapion.in his owne houſe, whō hauing broken almoſt all the ioyntes of his bodie, they caſt him downe from an vpper lofte, and ſo he died. Thus (raging againſt the Chriſtians) at laſt they fell at debate among themſelues, and ſo for a time the furie ſtaied: which was ſo great, that no place could hide the Chriſtians from the rage of the heathen. Shortly after this, came the Edict of the Emperour againſt the Chriſtians, whereupon the perſecution grew in all places more grieuous thā before. In ſo much, that ſome reuolted voluntarilie,Reuolt. & ſome by impriſonment & tormēt: Other continued conſtant to the death: of whom one was Iulianus, Iulianus.a man diſeaſed with the gout, & not able to go, but was caried by two men: of whom, the one quickly denied the other.
Cronion, Cronion.ſurnamed Eunus, Eunus.with Iulianus the olde man, were laide vponupon Camels, and there ſcourged, at length caſt into the fire for the teſtimonie of Ieſus. When ye aforeſaide were going to martirdom, there was a ſouldierA ſouldier. tooke parte with them, and ſo was preſentlie apprehended, & beheaded.
Likewiſe was one Macer, Macer.a Lybian, burned aliue, for his confeſſing of Chriſt. After theſe, ſuffered Epymachus, Epimachus.and Alexander, Alexander.which hauing ſuffered bonds & torments, with raſors and ſcourges, were burned wt iiij. other womē.
Likewiſe Ammonarion, Ammonarion.a holy virgin, and an aged matrone, named Mercuria, Mercuria.with another called Dyoniſia Dionyſia.(being a mother of many faire children) after many tormēts, were ſlaine by the ſword. Ammonarion ſuffered before the reſt, after, Heron, Heron.and Iſidorus, Iſodorus.Egyptians, and with them Dioſcorus, Dioſcorus.of the age of xv. yeres, With whom the Iudge firſt began, and could not preuaile, either by perſwaſions, or torments. The reſt (after grieuous torments) he cauſed to bée burned, and reſpited Dioſcorus for his tender age, being aſtonied at his graue anſweres, and conſtancie.
Nemeſian Nemeſian.alſo, an Egyptian, was firſt accuſed to be a cōpaniō of theues: but being purged thereof before the Cēturion, was thē accuſed of chriſtianity. Wherfore (being more gréeuouſly ſcourged thā ye other théeues) he was burned wt them.
There were ſtanding before the Tribunall ſeat, certaine warriors, or knights, whoſe names were, Ammon, Ammon.Zenon, Zenon.Ptolomeus, Ptolomeus.Ingenius, Ingenius.and wt them a certaine aged man called Theophilus: Theophilus.who ſéeing a certain Chriſtian fainting, and fearful to confeſſe his faith, emboldned him by ſignes, & gaue him courage. Which being noted, & the ſtāders by readie to lay hands on them, they preaſed vp of their own accord, profeſſing themſelues to be Chriſtians. Wherat the Iudge and his aſſiſtants were greatly amazed, and the Chriſtians emboldened to ſuffer. So they departed, glad for the teſtimonie they had geuen of their faith.
Alſo one Iſchrion, Iſchrion.being oftentimes moued by his maſter to do ſacrifice, and he refuſing, was of him run through with a pike, and ſlaine. In theſe times, infinite numbers wādred in wilderneſſes, ſuffering hunger, colde, danger of wilde beaſtes: in the number of whom was Cheremon, Cheremon.Biſhop of a towne called Nilus, an aged man: who with his wife, flying to the mountain of Arabia, could neuer (although they were ſought for) be heard of. And many other taken of the barbarous Arabiās, could ſcarcely be ranſomed for money.
At the ſame time Dioniſius Alexandrinus Dioniſius. Alexandrinus.(out of whoſe Epiſtle to Fabius Biſhop of Antioch, Euſebius recordeth theſe perſecutions) ſuffered much afflicton, and had ſtraunge deliuerance. Once the meſſenger was ſtroken blind, and could not find his houſe, beyng a Farmer of Sabinus: at length after thrée dayes he was commaunded of God to fly, and ſo did: but afterward comming to Ieruſalem, he was taken and brought by ſoldiours to Tapoſixis, where Timotheus Timotheus.being from home and returning, & finding Dioniſius and others taken, and all the reſt fled, he fled away alſo, and méeting a neighbour of his, and aſked whether he went, declared all the matter ſimply. Which doone, the man went on as he was purpoſed to a marriage, and tolde the company what was done, which they hearing, burſt out of the houſe in the night ſeaſon (as the manner of marriages was in that time) making toward the priſoners with great ſhowting: whereat they that apprehended the priſoners being afraid, left them, & ran away. Then the cōpany willed them to depart, which they did, & tooke Dionyſius by the hands & féet, & caried him out, & led him away. There followed him Gaius, Gaius.Fauſtus, Fauſtus.Petrus, Petrus.Paulus, Paulus.who brought him out of the city, and ſetting him vponupon a bare Aſſe, conueyed him away.
VnderUnder Decius ſuffered one Chriſtophorus, Chriſtophorus.a Chanaanite, being 12. cubits hie. VnderUnder him, alſo ſuffered Meniatus Meniatus.a Florentine, & Agatha, Agatha.an holy virgin in Sicily, who ſuffered impriſonment, with beatings, racking, famine, rayling vponupon, ſharpe ſhelles, and hote coales. Hauing (moreouer) her breſtes cut from her bodie, by the crueltie of Quintinianus the Proconſul. About the ſame time ſuffered alſo amōg others, xl. virgins by diuers kindes of death. VnderUnder this tyrant alſo ſuffered by the ſword (after diuers torments) Tryphon, Tryphon.a man of great holines and conſtancie in the Citie of Nice, by Aquilius. At what time Decius had erected a tēple in ye midſt of Epheſus, cōpelling al in the citie to do ſacrifice, there were found vij. ſouldiers yt refuſed: their names were, Maximianus, Malchus, Martialis, Dioniſius, Iohannes, Serapion and Conſtantinus. Who when reſpite was giuen them to conſider of the matter, till the Emperours returne from the warre, hid themſelues in mount Celius in caues: which the Emperour at his returne cauſed to be rammed vp with ſtones, and ſo they were martyred.
There was, as Hieronymus writeth in the life of Paulus the Heremite, a godly ſouldier, who could by no meanes be brought from his faith by the Pretor, and was brought into a pleaſant garden, and laid on a ſoft bedde, and an harlot ſent to allure him: who when ſhe offered to kiſſe, he bit of hir tongue, and ſpit it in the harlots face. The like is reported of Ambroſe de virginibus, of Theodora, Theodora.who was commanded to the ſtewes: which a young man a Chriſtian vnderſtanding, preſſed in, as though he had béene one of the lewde wantons, and tolde Theodora what he was, and councelled her to chaunge garments, and to conuey her ſelf away. Which ſhe did, he offering himſelfe to their violence: and being found a man, confeſſed himſelf a Chriſtian, & was preſently condemned to ſuffer. Which Theodora vnderſtanding of, offered her ſelfe to the Iudge, as the party guiltie, and required the other might be diſcharged. But the cruell iudge commanded them to be both beheaded, and after caſt into the fire. At what time this befel, it doth not appeare.
Agathon.Agathon, a man of Termes, in the citie of Alexādria, for rebuking thoſe that derided the dead bodies of the Chriſtians, was condemned to loſe his head.
The Proconſull of Troada, gaue Paulus Paulus.and Andreas Andreas.(being firſt ſcourged, and after drawen through the Citie) to be troden to death vnderunder the féete of the people. In this time alſo of Decius, ſuffered one Iuſtinus, Iuſtinus.a prieſt of Rome, and Nicoſtratus, a Deacon, alſo Portius, Portius.a prieſt of Rome, who is reported to hauehave conuerted the Emperour Philip aboue mentioned.
In that time there was alſo one Secundianus, Secundianus.who was accuſed to Valerian a captaine of Decius to be a Chriſtian: who as he was led by the ſouldiers to the gaile, Verianus Verianus.& Marcellinus Marcellinus.cried to the ſouldiers, and aſked whether they led the innocent. Wherevpon they were alſo brought to a place named Contumcellas, and there after torments & beatings with waſters, they were hanged on a gibbet with fire put to their ſides: but the tormentors ſome fell ſuddenly dead, other were taken with euill ſpirites, and the martyrs at length were beheaded with the ſword.
Beſides an infinite number that ſuffered vnderunder Decius, Sore perſecution.theſe are regiſtred, Hippolitus and Concordia, Hiereneus & Abundus, Victoria a virgin, beyng noble perſonages of Antioch: Bellias biſhop of the citie of Apollonia, Leacus, Tyrſus and Galmetus Nazanzo, Triphon in the citie of Egipt, called Tanais. Phildas biſhop of Philocomus, with many other in Perſide, Philochronius biſhop of Babilon, Theſiphon biſhop of Pamphilia, Neſtor biſhop in Corduba: Parmenius a prieſt with diuerſe other. In the prouince called Colonia, Circenſis Marianus and Iacobus. In Africa Nemeſianus, Felix, Rogatianus prieſt, Feliciſsimus: at Rome Iouinius, Baſilius, Ruffina, Secunda virgins, Tertullianus, Valerianus, Nemeſius, Sempromanus, & Olympius in Spaine: Teragone at Verone, Zeno biſhop at Ceſarea: Marinus and Archenius in the towne of Milaine: Priuatus biſhop, Theodorus ſurnamed Gregorius biſhop of Pontus. Haec Beda.
Alſo in the ſame perſecution ſuffered certaine children,Children perſecuteth. in a citie of Tuſcia called Aretum: their names are thought to be Pergentius Pergentius.and Laurentius.Laurentius.
The heat of this perſecution was ſo ſore, that ſome reuolted,Reuolt. as Serapion an aged mā, Nichomachus in the midſt of his torments, in the citie of Troada: Euariſtus biſhop in Africa, Nicoſtratus a Deacon, whereof diuerſe were puniſhed by the hand of God, ſome with euill ſpirites, ſome with ſtraunge diſeaſes.
In this time roſe vp the quarrell and Hereſie of Nouatus, Nouatus.who diſturbed Cyprian Cyprian.biſhop of Carthage, afterward diſturbed Cornelius Cornelius.Biſhop of Rome, and beyng aſſiſted with Maximus, Vrbanus, Sydonius, and Celerinus, allured vntounto him thrée ſimple Biſhoppes in the coaſtes of Italie, by whoſe laying on of hands (making them drunke before (he made himſelfe Biſhop of Rome with Cornelius, whom he went about by all meanes to defeat, and cauſed the people that came to receiue the Euchariſt at his hands, to ſweare they would ſtand with him. But Maximus, Vrbanus, Sydonius, and Celerinus, perceiuing themſelues abuſed, forſooke him afterward.
Cornelius remained B. of Rome after the death of Decius to the time of Gallus, but other affirme (as Damaſus) that he was exiled vnderunder Decius, and by him martyred in the way of Appius, firſt beyng beaten with plumbats. Euſebius ſaith he ſat two yéeres: in another place he ſaith thrée yéeres. Damaſus giueth him onelyonly two yéeres.
VnderUnder this tyrant ſuffered, as Cyprian reporteth, two yoong men, the one Aurelius Aurelius.who was twiſe tormented, the other Mappalicus, Mappalicus.who in the middeſt of his torments, ſayd to the Proconſull; to morrow you ſhall ſée the running for a wager: meaning his martyrdome, which he conſtantly did ſuffer.
Decius death.This Decius raigned but two yéeres, and with his ſonne was ſlaine of the Barbarians. Pomponius affirming that he warring againſt the Gothians, to auoid their hands, ran into an whyrlepit where hée was drowned, and his body neuer found.
Immediatly after the death of Decius, God ſent a plague tenne yéeres together,A plague of ten yeeres. which made diuerſe places of the world deſolate; eſpecially where the perſecution moſt raged. Where might appeare great difference betwéene the Chriſtians and Gentils, one comforting and miniſtring to the neceſſities of their brethren, the other forſaking their neighbours, and friends, left them deſtitute,Cyprian de mortalitate. and voyd of ſuccour. VponUpon this plague, Cypr. wrote his book de mortalitate.
After ye death of Decius, ſucceded Vibias Vibias.Gallus Gallus.& Voluſian. Voluſianus.his ſon, both by treaſō, about ye yéere 255. & cōtinued 2. yéers.
Gallus at the firſt was quiet,The teachers of Chriſtianity baniſhed. but anon after publiſhed edicts againſt ye Chriſtians, which was chiefly of baniſhmēt of the guides of the church. In whoſe time Cyprian B. of Carthage was baniſhed. Other were condemned to ye mynes, as Nemeſianus, Nemeſianus.Felix, Felix.Lucius, Lucius.with their biſh, prieſts, & deacons: to whom Cyprian wrote cōſolatory epiſtles. He wrote alſo conſolatory Epiſtles to Seagrius Seagrius.& Rogatianus, Rogatianus.being then in bonds for the trueth. In the time of this Gallus, was Lucius B. of Rome ſent into baniſhment, (who next ſuccéeded Cornelius in ye yéere 256.) wherin he continued but a while, and returned to his Church. Lucius ſate but 8. moneths, as ſaith Euſebius, Damaſus, Marianus, Scotus, and Nauclerus ſay he ſate 3. yéeres, and was beheaded the ſecond yéere of Valerian, and Galienus.
After Lucius, came Stephanus, Stephanus.& ſate 7. yéers 5. months, & died a martir, as ſaith Damaſus. Platina, Sabellicus, Euſebius, & Volateranus, giuegive him (which is more likely) but 2. yeres.
Betwixt this Stephanus, and Cyprian, fell a contentionContention. about rebaptiſing of heretikes.
Next to the former Emperors ſuccéeded Emilianus, Emilianus.who ſlue the former, and ſuccéeded himſelf. After that he had reigned but thrée moneths, he alſo was ſlaine.
Next, Valerianus, and Galienus, Valerianus & Galienus.his ſonne, were aduaunced to the Empire, and ſuccéeded Emilianus.
Valerianus thrée or foure yéeres was ſo curteous, and gentle to the Chriſtians, as no Emperour before him, no not ſuch as profeſſed Chriſt: ſo that his Court was full of Chriſtians. But being ſeduced by an Egyptian magician,Valerianus ſeduced. who was hindred by the Chriſtians, from practiſing his charms, he fell to idols, and ſacrificed young infantes, and raiſed the eight perſecution.