Select Observations of Roman Emperors, Life 35
Valerianus.
HE was nobly descended, and of such esteem among the Romans, that being a private man, and absent, they chose him for their Censor;Valeriani vitae censura est. an office of great dignity, ever conferred upon the best, saith Trebellius Pollio who wrote his life.
Haud consona de hoc Valeriano authores prodidere. Sex. Aurel. stolidum & multum inertem narrat, neque ad aliquem usum publicum, officio, consilio vel gestis aecommodatum. Contra Trebellius mire hunc laudat, adducto Senatusconsulto in ejus rei testimonium. Pomponius Laetus ait eum fuisse hominem majoris spei ac opinionis, quàm fortunae: id quod res ipsa ostendit. Glareanus in Eutropium, p. 223.
At the beginning of his reign he was gracious to the Christians above any of his Predecessors, but after being perverted by Macrianus an Egyptian Magician (who aspired to the Empire in his Son's time) he was Author *Adigi per tormentae Christianos ad idololatriam, abnegantesque interfici jussit, fuso per omnem Romani regni latitudinem sanctorum sanguine. Orosius, l. 7. c. 22.of the eighth persecution.
As this was the outward and political cause, so St. Cyprian sheweth other causes more special and Ecclesiastical in the 4th Epistle of his 4th Book. In which Epistle (worthy to be read of all) Cyprian describeth a certain vision, seen long before this tempest of persecution hapned; wherein the Christians are upbraided for not being so vigilant in prayer as they should.
Tarapha de Regib. Hisp. saith Hemiterius and Chelidonius 2 Spanish Martyrs (of whom Prudentius writeth foreign hymno primo) suffered under Valerian.
Prudentius in hymno dicit ignorari tempus, quo passi sint; sed Chronica Hispana huic adscribunt persecutioni: quod ita esse, ex Eborensi Breviario constat. Vasaei Chronicon. Hispan. p. 276. Where it is added, that they were Soldiers, and sons of Marcellus a Centurion, who also was a Martyr (saith Vasaeus, p. 282.) being beheaded for professing Christianity, by Agricolaus, Licinius's deputy.
Fructuosus a Bishop, being charged to worship Gallienus his heathen Gods, answered;Prudentius Peristeph. Hymn. 6. I worship no dumb God of stocks and blocks which the Emperor worshipeth, but I worship the Lord and Master of Gallienus, the Father and Creator of all times. For witnessing which good confession, this blessed and fruitful Bishop with his 2 Deacons Augurius and Eulogius were burned.
Marinus a Nobleman and Captain in Cesarea Palaestina standing for a Centurionship, that fell to him by right of succession, his Competitor to prevent him, accused him to Achaius the Judge for being a Christian; who examining him of his Faith, and finding it true, gave him three hours to deliberate, whether he would lose his Office and life, or renounce Christ and his profession. Marinus being much perplexed what to resolve on, Theotecnus the godly Bishop of Cesarea took him by the hand, led him into the Church, set the New Testament and his sword (representations of God and the world) before him, bidding him freely chuse which of them he would have. He taking up the New Testament, the wise Bishop convinced thereby that he preferred God before the world, encouraged him to be constant even to death, and God whom he chose would be constant to him. Whereupon he went boldly to the Judge, from whom he received the sentence of death. Eusebius, Ec. Hist. l. 7. c. 14.
Prudentius Peristeph. Hymn. 2.Saint Laurence refusing to deliver the Churches money to the Prefect of Rome, was adjudged by him to be broiled on a Grid-iron; which torments he bore bravely, saying in a facetious Sarcasm,
Tyrant, this side's enough, turn up the rest;
Or roast, or raw try which thou likest best.
Billingsly's Brachy-Martyrologia, p. 40.
Cyprian Bishop of Carthage was crowned with Martyrdom,Prudentius Peristeph. Hymm. 13. who when the sentence was passed against him, gave God thanks; and being advised by Galerius the Pro-consul to consider and recant, answered: In re tam sancta non opus est deliberatione, There needs no deliberation in this case.
In his forementioned Epistle, he writeth that in a Revelation he was bid be quiet, for peace would come though there was stay for a while, that some men might be try'd.
In Valerian's reign there suffered 300 Martyrs together *Massa Candida in Africa.at Carthage, whom the Governor of the City commanded either to throw frankincense into the fire (set before them) in honour of Iupiter, or else to cast themselves headlong into a Limekiln hard by; which they did, chusing rather to embrace fire, than resist light.
Corpora candor habet, candor vehit ad superna mentes,
Candida massa dehinc dici meruit per omne seclum.
prudentius in Peristeph. Hymn. 13.
Cheraemon Episcop. Nicopoleos sub Valerian. Imp. in fuga cum aliis exul, vivus unà cum uxore in coelum sublatus est. 257. Oraeus in Nomenclatore praecipuorum Doctorum, &c.
As all the persecutors before had their deserved reward at the hand of God, who rendreth to every man according to his works: so this cruel Valerian, after he had reigned with his Son Gallienus 6 or 7 years, and about 2 years had afflicted the Church, felt the just stroke of his hand, whose indignation before he had provoked, as is related by Eutropius, Sabellicus, Volaterranus: for when he warred in Mesopotamia, he was taken prisoner by Sapor, Surnamed Dhul-aktaph from his broad shoulders. Shikard in his Tarich Regum Persicorum, l. 110.or Schabur King of Persia (through the treachery of Macrianus) and used like a slave as long as he lived, Sapor setting his foot upon his neck whensoever he mounted on horse-back, to the utmost vilifying of Majesty, and the regret of divers interceding Princes.
It was the most signal affront which the Romans hitherto ever received in the person of their Emperors. Tristan.
At last saith Eusebius, by Sapors command, his eies were pulled out, wherewith he dyed; Agathias saith he was flayed alive, and rubbed all over with salt: a calamity which may challenge tears of blood.
All his skin from the neck to the soles of his feet, was so artificially pulled off, that it might be blown like a bladder, and so was hung upon a rock, for an example to all ages. Schickard his Tarich, p. 111.
He lived a long, but disgraceful age; was 76 years old before he was taken Prisoner: after his captivity he lived 7 years in reproaches, and then dyed a violent death. A man of a poor mind, and not valiant; notwithstanding lifted up in his own, and the opinion of men, but falling short in the performance. Sir Fr. Bacon.
Infoelicissimus Principum a filio Gallieno in Deos relatus est, quasi Deum facere posset, quem liberum facere aut nequiverat, aut neglexerat. Cluverus in Hist. Epit.
Sub eo fames tanta fuit, quanta nunquam, & cadaverum multitudo, quam effari nemo possit. Quippe a mari pariter ac terra, fluviisque & paludibus, vapores quidam oriebantur, adeo quidem perniciosi, ut rores ipsi cadaverum humores viderentur. Itaque nulla inventa domus in qua non cadaver aliquid foetidum esset; moriebantur enim homines numero plures. Metochita in Hist. Rom.
Gallienus tam claro Dei judicio territus, tamque misero collegae permotus exemplo, pacem Ecclesiae trepida satisfactione restituit, saith Orosius, l. 7. c. 22.
Iulian the Apostate, who so smartly censureth the Emperors his Predecessors, arrogantly taxeth the misfortune of Valerian in his Cesars, reproaching his servitude, and representing him laden with his chains to enter the banquet of the Gods.
Valerian Christians vext, Sapores flay'd him,
How cruelty helps justice! they repaid him.
Dr. Holyday's Survey of the world, p. 90.