his wife children and other men and women to the number of 42. and with them also another noble Senator named Simplicius Simplicius all which together in one day had their heads smitten of their hands hanged vp in diuerse gates of the citie Vnder him also suffered Quiritius Quiritius a noble man of Rome with his mother Iulia Iulia. with a great number besides also Tiberius Tiberius and Valerianus Valerianus citizens of Rome and brethren suffered the same time being first beaten with bats and after beheaded Also one Martina Martina a virgin suffered at the same time but these martyrs are rather to be thought to suffer vnder Maximinus or Decius The sixt Persecution Maximinus MAximinus succéeded Alexander as is aforesaid the yéere of our Lord 237. Who for the hatred he had to Alexander raised the sixth persecution especially against the teachers of the Church he raigned but thrée yéeres In the time of this persecution Origen wrote his booke De Martyrio After him succéeded Gordian Gordian who was milde towards the Christians raigned six yéeres and was slaine of Phillip Phillip who succéeded him In the dayes of these Emperours aboue recited was Pontianus Pontianus bishop of Rome who succéeded next after Vrbanus about the yéere 236. in the twelfth yéere of Alexander according to Eusebius declaring him to sit six yéeres Damasus and Platius write that hée was Bishop nine yéeres and a halfe and with Phillip his priest was banished into Sardinia and there died But it séemeth he was rather banished vnder Maximinus and died in the beginning of the raigne of Gordianus In these times notable men were raised vp to the church as Philetus Philetus Bishop of Antioch who succéeded Asclepiades aboue mentioned anno 220. and after him Zebenus Zebenus bishop of the same place anno 231. To these may be added Ammonius Ammonius the Scholemaster of Origen and kinsman of Porphiry the enemy of Christ In the same times was also Iulius Aphricanus Iulius Aphricanus the scholer of Origen To these may be ioined Natalius Natalius who had suffered for the truth and was seduced by Asclepiodotus and Theodotus who were the disciples of Theodorus to take vpon him to be the Bishop of their sect promising him euery moneth 150. pieces of siluer wherto he yéelded But the Lord in a vision admonished him whereto he taking no héed was in a night scourged with Angels and so confessed his fault and declared that which had happened vnto him to Zephirinus the Bishop who with the rest of the congregation admitted him againe After Pontianus succéeded Anterius Anterius Cōcerning his time writers doe greatly vary Eusebius and Marianus Scotus affirm that he was Bishop but a moneth Damasus twelue yeeres and one moneth Volateranus Bergomensis Henricus Erford thrée yéeres one moneth Nauclerus one yere and one moneth Next to this Bishop was Fabianus Hippolitus Hippolitus was a martyr and as Gelasius saith was bishop of an head Citie in Arabia Nicephorus that he was Bishop of Ostia a port towne néere to Rome He was a great writer and was about the yéere 230. Prudentius in his Peristephanon maketh mention of great heapes of martyrs buried by thréescore together and saith that Hippolitus was drawne with wild horses through fields dales and bushes After Gordianus succéeded Philippus who with Philip his sonne gouerned about the space of sixe yéeres ann 246. These Emperours with their families were christened and conuerted by Fabianus and Origen He with his sonne was slaine of Decius one of the Captaines by hatred as it is thought because the Emperours had committed their treasures vnto Fabianus then Bishop of Rome 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 vpon 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 vnder Decius vnder 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 haue 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 vpon 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 haue 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 vnder the 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 vnto 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. vnder whom Dionysius Alexandrinus Dionysius Alexandrinus suffered much The persecutions vnder Decius were so cruel that Niceph. faith it were as possible to number the sand of the sea as to recite their names that suffred Cruel persecution Of the which persecution vnder the Emperor
Constantius contented only with the title satisfied himselfe with Fraunce Spaine and Britanie Wherefore Galerius chose to him his two sonnes Maximinus and Seuerus Likewise Constantius tooke Constantinus vnder him Constantinus In the meane time while Maximinus with his two Cesars were in Asia the Romā souldiers set vp for their Emperor Maxentius the sonne of Maximinian who had deposed himself against whom Seuerus being sent by his father was slaine of Maxentius in whose place Maximinus tooke Licinius and these Emperours prosecuted the persecution seuen or eight yéeres which was till the yéere 318. Sauing that Constantius and his son Constantinus rather fauoured the Christians Constantius trieth his court who were Christians and minding to trie at a certaine time what good Christians hée had in his court fayned as though hée would doo sacrifice to Diuels and commaunded all his houshold so to doo to the end he might discerne the one from the other which hauing doone and finding a number to remaine constant cherished them and refused the backsliders admitting the other to the chiefe places about him Maximinus in the East churches vsed great crueltie and had executioners of the same Pentius Quintianus Theotechnus besides other but his rage was stayed by the hand of God who sent him such a botch Gods iudgement vpon Maximinus that it putrified and eate his entrailes from whence swarmed an innumerable multitude of lyce wherevpon he caused persecution to cease and required the Christians to pray for him and published edicts of peace vnto them throughout all his Empyre Wherat one Maxentius was not pleased to haue such edicts published where he had to doo in Asia other prouinces But Sabinus who had among them the chief office wrote the Emperours pleasure to the substitutes of euery country whervpon grew a maruellous sudden alteration in the Church But scarse suffered Maximinus the tyrant the same six moneths vnuiolated but set out contrary edicts caused them to be engraued in brasse and hanged in euery citie So that persecution rose againe as great as before At Emysa in Phenicia they condemned thrée christians with whom Syluanus Syluanus the bishop a very old man being 40. yéeres in ecclesiasticall function was condemned to death In Nicomedia Lucianus the Elder of Antioch after he had giuen his Apologie to the Emperour was put to death In Amasia a citie of Cappadocia Bringes the lieftenant of Maximinus had the executing of that persecution At Alexandria Petrus Petrus a most worthy bishop was beheaded with many other Egyptian bishops Quirinus Quirinus the Bishop of Scescanius was throwne into the flood hauing an handmill hanged about his necke and drowned At Rome died Marcellus Marcellus and Timotheus Timotheus the elder with many other Bishops and priests and in many other places diuerse were martyred as Victorianus Symphorianus Castorius with his wife Castulus Cesarius Mennas Nobilis Dorotheus Gorgamus Petrus and other innumerable martyrs more Iuliana Cosmus Damanus Basilenus with 7. other Dorothea Theophilus Theodosia Vitalis Agricola Acha Philemon Hireneus Ianuarius Festus Desiderius Gregorius Spolitanus Agapes Chronia Hirenea Theodora 270. martyred and 270. other Florianus Primus and Felicianus Vitus and Modestus Crescentia Albinus Rogatianus Donatianus Pancratius Catharina Margareta Lucia the virgin and Antheus the king with 37000. martyrs Antheus a king with 37000. martyrs Simplicius Faustinus Beatrix Panthaleon Gregorius Iustus Leocandia Anthonia with an infinite number more Also Felix Victor with his parents Lucia the widdow 79. martyrs Germinianus with 79. others Sabinus Anastacia Chrisogonus Felix and Audactus Adrianus Nathalia Eugenia Agnes of thirtéene yeares old The kind of cruelties were straunge and the persecution more gréeuous vnder Maximinus the tyrant then vnder Maximinianus the Prince Now the Emperour in his edict had declared what plentie they enioyed what times their Idols were adored but immediatly vpon this renewing of persecution fell out most miserable famine and pestilence Famine and pestilence in the which the christians shewed their kindnes vnto the Gentils reléeuing to their power such as they thought to stand in néed Herevpon grew againe some peace Maximinian vnderstanding that the Pretorian souldiers had chosen his sonne Emperour at Rome intended to take vnto him againe his empire and perswaded Dioclesian so to do but was repulsed and prouided to fly to Constantinus in Frāce for aide but indéed purposed to kil him which was detected by Fausta the daughter of Maximinian whō Constantinus had married So that taking no place he retired in the way was apprehended and put to death Certaine companions of Maxentius solliciting a Christian Gentlewoman of Rome whose husband first they had killed to satisfie the filthie desire of the Emperour rather then she would so doe killed her selfe In the beginning of his reigne he fained himself a Christian to the end he might serue his wicked purpose but afterward shewed himself both towards them and in al other behauiour most abhominable giuing himselfe to magicke and pollution of his body with all kinde of cruelty against his owne citizens and nobles He banished a certain noblewoman of Rome because she gaue her goods to the Church The people of Rome being wearied with the villany of Maxentius The villany of Maxentius required ayd of Constantin who first admonished him by letters which nothing preuailing he gathered an armie in Fraunce and Britanny to represse the rage of the of the tyrant To whō he approched and fearing his charms wherewith hée had vanquished Seuerus sent by Galerius stoode in doubt and whilest he was in doubting and casting vp his eies manie times to heauen on the South part about the going downe of the sunne he saw a brightnesse in heauen appearing in the similitude of a crosse A vision of the crosse with certain starres of equall bignesse giuing this inscription like latine letters In hoc vince that is in this ouercome Eusebius Pamphilus made report that he heard Constantinus himselfe often report the same Now he being astonied hereat and consulting vpon the meaning thereof in the night in his sléepe Christ appeared vnto him with the signe of the same crosse which he had séene before bidding him to make the figuratiō thereof and to carrie it in his warres before him and so should he haue victorie Wherevpon he marched towards Maxentius hauing done as the vision commanded who being constrained to issue out of the citie to méete him commanded Pons Milonius to be beaten down a false bridge to be made thinking thereby to take Constantinus But hée himselfe being not able to sustaine Constantinus force Maxentius drowned The last persecution ended and retiring in hope to get the Citie was ouerthrowen of his horse into the flood and drowned and so ended the last Persecution The first attempt of Constantinus against Maxentius was Ann. 318. So that thrée hundred yeres was the ful time of the persecution from Christ Constantinus for this
abide the fire shall also geue power that wtout this prouisiō I shal abide and not stir in this fire Which when they heard they only bound him who hauing geuen thankes vnto God and testified his faith the tormentors put fire vnto him which seemed to those that were beholders to compasse the bodie like a vaile which in the middest thereof séemed like golde and siluer tried in the fire and yelded a pleasant smell Thus the fire not consuming his bodie one of the Tormentors thrust him in with a Sworde Whereafter so great a quantitie of bloud issued out of his bodie that the fire was quenched therewith The bodie afterwarde was taken and burned as their manner was to doe And this was the ende of that worthie man At that same time suffered also at Smirna twelue other that came from Philadelphia with diuers other as Metrodorus Metrodorus a minister and another worthy man named Pionius Pionius who after gréeuous torments were burned After these suffered Carpus Carpus Papylus Papylus and Agathonica Agathonica a woman who were put to death at Pergamopolis in Asia Euseb l. 4. c. 7. In Rome suffered Felicitas with her seuen children Felicitas with her 7. children whose names were Ianuarius Felix Philip Siluanus Alexander Vitalis and Martialis Of which companie Ianuarius after he was whipped with roddes was prest to death with leaden waightes Felix and Philip had their braines beaten out with maules Siluanus was cast downe headlong and had his neck broken Alexander Vitalis and Martialis were beheaded Last of all the mother was slaine with the sworde Ex Suppl Vnder this M. Antoninus suffred also the worthy man and learned Philosopher Iustinus Iustinus born at Neapolis in Palestina His father was Priscus Baicus He wrote Apologies First to the Senate of Rome after to Antonius Pius the Emperor He wrote also to Vrbinus Lieftenant of the Citie He preuayled so with Antonius Pius that hee stayed the persecution in Asia This man was accused by Crescens a Cynike philosopher whom he had vanquished in disputation in reuenge whereof he procured his death in the yere 154. in the xiij yere of the Reigne of Antoninus the Emperor Vnder the same Antoninus suffered also Ptolomeus Lucius Lucius for confessing Christ in a Citie of Egypt called Alexandria Ptolomeus was accused by a Centurion subornne thereunto by a vicious Infidel whose wife had béene also lewde but conuerted by Ptolomeus and thereupon departing from her vicious husband hee reuengeth himselfe vpon her Instructor who being brought before Vrbinus the Iudge and condemned to suffer death Lucius a Christian blaming the Iudge and iustifying the innocencie of Ptolomeus was with him also without further examination martired In the raigne of this Tirant suffered also one Concordus Concordus a Minister in the Citie of Spoletum because he would not do sacrifice to Iupiter but spit in his face wherefore after many and sundrie torments he was beheaded It is reported that diuers other Martirs suffered vnder this Antoninus Verus as Symmetrius Symmetrius c. Florellus Pontianus Alexāder Caius Epipodus Victor Corona Marcellus and Valerianus Who because they would not doe sacrifice to Idols ended their liues by the sword Vnder this Tyrant suffered diuers Martirs at Vienna and Lions two Cities in France Among whom Vetius Vetius Zacharias Sanctus Maturus Attalus Blandina Alexander and Alcibiades are chiefly renoumed Vetius Epagathus for reproouing the cruell sentence of the Iudge geuen against the Christians and making an Apologie for them was martyred He was called by the faithfull being but a young man the Aduocate of the Christians Sanctus Sanctus was Deacon of the Congregation at Vienna Maturus Maturus was but a little before baptized Attalus Attalus was borne at Pergama who was the foundation and piller of that congregatiō Blandina Blandina weried the tormentors with hir patient suffering Likewise did Sanctus who in his tormenting beyng asked his name his citie his kinred he answered to all questions I am a Christian With these suffered one Bibledes Bibledes a woman who had denied Christ being tormented to the end she might vtter some wickednes of the Christians shée confessed Christ againe continued constant and was martyred with the rest At that time Photinus Photinus deacon to the B. of Lions about 90. yéeres old beyng first sore beaten was cast into prison and there died within two daies after Maturus and Sanctus were brought againe to torment and with them Blandina and Attalus yet notwithstanding exquisite and strange deuised torments they continued constant in the faith Blandina was fastened vpon a stake cast to beasts to be deuoured but no beast woulde touch her wherevpon they tooke her downe and put her in prison till another time Attalus was brought foorth againe with one Alexander Alexander a Phrygian and a Phisition who because he encouraged the Christians standing before the Iudge was apprehended and suffered most grieuous torments most patiently without change of countenaunce and died broyled in an Iron chaire After this being the last day of the spectacle Blandina againe and one Ponticus Ponticus a childe of fiftéen yeres olde was brought foorth The childe died constant with extremitie of torment Blandina after diuers most exquisite tormentes as whips gridiron and wilde beastes was at the last cast into a net throwen to a wilde Bull and so was gored to death Neither did their rage cease against the dead bodies which they would not suffer to be buried but caused them to be watched least they should be put in graue The causes why these persecutions were the more sharpe was because some of the Ethnicks being seruants to the christians were compelled by threatnings to fayne against them that they kept the feasts of Thiestes and incest of Oedipus with other most hainous crimes To these Emperours did Melito Melito bishop of Sardis exhibite Apologies for the Christians learned and eloquent So did Claudius Apollinaris Cl. Apollinaris bishop of Hierapolis like as Quadratus Quadratus and Aristides Aristides did before to the Emperour Hadrian So that whether it were by that means or through the writing of Athenagoras Athenagoras a philosopher a Legate of the Christians it is certaine that the persecutiō the same time was staied Persecuton stayed Others thinke it came by a miracle wrought in the Emperours campe For what time the two brethren Emperours ioyned together and warred against the Quades Vandals Sarmates and Germaines when their souldiers wanting water fiue daies together Miracle and by meanes thereof were like to perish in this distresse a legion of the Christian souldidiers withdrew themselues and praied whereby they obtained showers and swéete raine and the enimies were terrified with lightnings and haile and so discomfited and put to flight Wherevpon the Emperour wrote to diuers of his Gouernours that they should giue thankes
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 Vnder 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 giue 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 vnder Decius In these times in the Citie of Antioch suffered fourtie Virgins xl Virgins in the daies of Decius In Phrigia suffered one Peter Peter in the Towne of Lampsur vnder 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 the 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 vpon a Priest called Metra Metra apprehended him and layde vpon 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 vpon 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 vpon Camels and there scourged at length cast into the fire for the testimonie of Iesus When the aforesaide were going to martirdom there was a souldier A 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 with 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 the other théeues he was burned with them There were standing before the Tribunall seat certaine warriors or knights whose names were Ammon Ammon Zenon Zenon Ptolomeus Ptolomeus Ingenius Ingenius and with 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
his Apologie before the Emperour Hermannus caused Serena the wife of Dioclesian Serena the wife of the emperor martired to bée martired There were also other Martirs in Nicomedia as Eulampia Agapen Irenea Chronia and Anastachia who vnder Illyricus chiefe Officer were burned Maximinus burned 2000. Two thousand together in a Temple burned Christians together in one Temple men women and children In Arabia many Martirs were slaine with axes In Phrygia there was a whole Citie of Christians compassed set on fire and burned A whole citie of Christians burned In Melitina a Region of Armenia the Bishops and Elders were cast into prison In Arabrate a Region nigh Armenia Eustachius that Countreyman borne and Sheriffe vnder the Emperor at Lycia in the East hauing there done execution on the christians was conuerted and confessed himselfe a Christian after diuers strange tormentes was carried to Sebastia with the rest of his companions and there burned At that time also suffered Eugenius Auxentius Eustachius Marderius And in no lesse manner raged this persecution in Egypt where Peleus and Nilus Peleus and Nilus Bishops were martyred But especially in Alexandria the rage was great where Peter the Bishop of Alexandria suffered with the Elders of the same church Faustus Didius Ammonius Phildas The B. with the Elders martired A legion of Christians martired Hesichius Pachiminus and Theodorus beside many other The whole legion of Christian Souldiers which to the number of 6660. lay at Thebes in Egypt vnder the Christian Captaine Mauritius refusing to worshippe Images were tithed to death once and then againe and last through the exhortation of Mauritius Mauritius died al together constant in faith Likewise at Anteno diuers Christian Martirs suffered death together Among whom were Ascla Philemon and Apollonius And in other parts of Africa and Mauritania was great persecution Also in Samnium Scilia where 79. 79. martired were put to death Now in Europe at Nicopolis in Thracia the Martirs were miserably handled by Lysia In Chalcedon suffered Euphenia vnder Priscus the Proconsul Great persecution in Italy At Rome Iohannes and Crispus being Priestes had the execution of Martirs At Bohemia Agricola Vitalis and at Aquileia the Emperor commanded euery man to kil the Christians Among those Felices and Fortunatus are recorded In other places also of Italie the persecutiō was great as at Florentia Pergamus Naples Cāpania Beneuentus at Venusa in Apulia in Thussia and at Verona In Fraunce Rectorianus was a cruell persecutor At Mediolanum suffered Victor Victor At Massilia Maximianus setteth out his decrée that all the refused to doe sacrifice should with diuers tormentes be slaine In Beluacus suffered Lucian Lucian In Spayne likewise was great persecution as at Emerita where suffered Eulalia and Adula where also suffered Vincentia Sabina and Christiana 18. martired At Toletum suffered Leucadia the virgin At Cesarea Augusta Where were put to death xviij beside a great nūber of Martirs which suffered vnder Decianus the Gouernor who afflicted with persecutiō all the coasts of Spain And the foresaide Rectorianus made such Persecution at Treuers Persecution in Spaine néere the riuer of Mosella that the bloud of christian men that were slaine Riuers died with bloud of Christians ran like a litle brooke and coloured many riuers And round about all quarters he commāded horsemen to ride and charge the people to kill the Christians as they found them Moreouer at Colonia was great persecutiō where Agrippina and Augusta were martyred as also in the prouince of Rhetia In Britanny great persetion And in Brytannie all the Christians were destroyed The deaths that this tyrant vsed were diuerse and the torments so gréeuous as no tongue can vtter as the hanging vp of them by one hand Straunge torments that they might féele the waight of the rest of their bodies the scorching and broylyng them with coales not vnto death but euery day new with which kind of death the martyrs of Antioch were afflicted as more at large it appeareth by a letter of Phildas to the congregation of Thunitans where hée was Bishop before hée receiued the sentence of death beyng yet in handes In Thebaid Eusebius saith that he himselfe beheld the persecution which was so great The persecutors wearied with slaughter that the very swords of the hangmen and persecutors being blunt with the great and often slaughter they themselues for wearinesse sate down to rest them and other were faine to take their places But the martyrs nothing dismayed bare all with patience for his sake In this persecution one Miletus gaue backe and the Bishoppe of Lycus a citie in litle Egypt Reuolt whom Peter the Bishop of Alexandria did therfore excommunicate So did Marcellinus Bishop of Rome being perswaded thereto by Dioclesian wherefore he was excommunicated but afterward repented and was also martired So cruel was the persecution that there were slaine of Martirs in xxx dayes xvij thousand 17000. slain in 30. dayes 300. at Alexandria 300. at Colen besides another great multitude that were condemned to the mettall mines and Quarries At Alexandria with Peter their B. were slaine 300. with axes Geriō was beheaded at Colonia Agrippina with 300 of his felowes Victor in the citie of Troye now called Xanthus with his felowes 360. Reginus reciteth many other martirs to the number of 120. Mauritius came out of Syria into France and Italy being Captain of the bande of the Theban souldiers in nūber 6660. Theban souldiers 6660. sent for of Maximinianus to go against the rebellious Bangandes These Thebans were at Rome confirmed by Marcellus the bishop in the faith Now at Ottodon Maximinianus offered sacrifice to the Diuels and commaunded all his army so to doo which Mauritius and his company refused wherefore they were all tythed to death once and persisting constantly were tythed againe and at the last by the commaundement of Maximinianus his whole army set vpon them and slue them all making no resistance Victor at that time was not of that bande but beyng dismissed for his age came suddenly to sée what had béene doone and finding them making mery and banketting hauing knowne the cause detested their fact Whervpon confessing also him selfe to be a Christian he was slaine This persecution endured till the seuenth yéere of Constantinus as Beda saith but as Eusebius till the tenth yere which at the length ceassed from slaughter the tyrants being out of hope to extinguish them yet slew they many and put out the eies of diuers and condemned other to the mettall mines When Dioclesianus and Maximinianus had reigned together one and twentie or two and twentie yéers they gaue ouer their empire and liued a priuate life Dioclesian at Salona the other at Mediolanum Ann. 309. after Christ so that the Emperiall dignitie remayned now with Constantius Galerius Maximinus Maximinus gouerning the east and Constantius the West partes But
the couent of the couēt so much as apperteineth to one monke the portion of the goods being portionably deuided of the Abbot likewise as much This request was denied so that not long after the said Otho came again Cum autentico plenariae potestatis and assembled a Councell againe at London for the former purpose so that diuerse for feare many to obtaine further dignities bestowed diuers pretious rewards on him in palfreis in rich plate and iewels in costly and sumptuous garmēts richly furred in come in vittels c. Gifts to the popes Legate In so much that onely the B. of Winchester hearing that he would winter at London sent him fiftie fat oxen and a 100. coome of pure wheat and eight tunnes of chosen wine towards his house kéeping and other likewise according to their abilitie Now the time of the Councell drawing néere and the Bishops assembled Contentiō betwixt Canterbury Yorke for dignitie there fell great variance and discord betwixt the Archbishops of Canterbury and Yorke for sitting at the right hand and the left hand of the cardinall The Cardinall to pacifie thē brought foorth a certaine Bull of the Pope in the middest whereof was pictured the figure of the Crosse with the Image of Paule on the right side and Peter on the left and vpon that shewed no derogation to arise for the place or seats Whervpon from that time foorth Canterbury enioyed the right hand and Yorke the left This strife thus ended The strife ended the Cardinall preacheth vnto them and maketh such vnreasonable demaundes for the filling of his bagges that the king dreading the displeasure of his commons for the dooings of the Legate willed him to repayre home againe to Rome yet could hée not be so rid of him but that hée gleaned foure markes of euery procuration besides the rable of Friers sturred men to go to warre agaynst the Turkes whom when they had once bound with a vowe and signed them with the Crosse then send they Bulles to release them for mony Besides the Pope shamed not to aske the fifth part of euery ecclesiasticall mans liuing and also pope Gregory agréed with the citizens of Rome that if they would ioyne with him in vāquishing Fredericke the Emperor he would graunt vnto them that all the benefices of England that were and should be vacant namely pertaining to religious houses should be bestowed at their owne will commandement to their children kinsfolke whervpon within a few daies after the pope sendeth commandement to the archb of Cāterbury and foure other bishops that prouision should be made for 300. Romans in the chiefest and best benefices in all England 300. Romanes to be placed in benefices of England at the next voidance so that the archb and those bishops should be suspēded from all gifts of benefices vntill the 300. were prouided for Wherevpon the archb seing the vnreasonable oppression of the land went into Fraunce and left the realme and the rest of the Prelates comming themselues to the king desired a councell that talke might be had in the matter which being graunted they made certaine exceptions to the Popes request The Pope desireth to be strong to suppresse the Emperour Fredericke not daring directly to denie the contribution Now the occasion both of this collection of the mony and this fauour of the Romans was to the end the Pope might be sufficiently strong to suppresse the Emperour Fredericke Not long after this followed at Lions a generall Councell A Councell at Lions called by Innocent the 4. In which Councell the English nation did exhibite certaine Articles of their griefes touching the Popes great exactions and placing Italians in their benefices but their suite preuayled not for the Pope not long after that New exactiōs in England sent for new exactions to be gathered which when the King heard of hée commaunded the Bishops not to yéeld to any such matter till the returne of his Ambassadours which hée sent to the Pope touching that matter About the latter end of December the Embassadours returne and signifie the Popes high displeasure against the King whereat hée being greatly mooued caused to be proclaimed through al his realme that none héereafter should consent to any taxe of money frō the court of Rome No taxe of money out of England to Rome which comming to the popes eare he directeth his letters to the prelats of England vpon payn of his curse suspence that they should make collection of the summe of money against the feast of the assumptiō the charge of the curse being committed to the B. of Worcester to execute The K. relenteth to the pope The 3. part of churchgoods the yeerly fruit of vacant benefices to the pope This so terrified the king that what with the perswasion of the bishops other prelats he relented which made the Pope at length so past shame that he he demaunded vpon the censure of his curse the third part of the churchgoods and the yéerely fruits of al vacant benefices So that such hath béene the insatiable desire of the Romanists that in the dayes of Sudburie Archbishop of Canterbury Anno 1360. the pope by his proctors gate from the Cleargy in lesse then one yéere more thē 60000. Florins of méere contributions 60000. florins in one yeere to Rome besides c. besides his other auailes and common reuenues out of benefices prebendaries first fruits tributes peterpence collations reseruations relaxations and such merchandise About this time ann 1220. The Albingenses assailed by the pope the pope stirred vp Lodouike the yong French king through the instance of Philip his father to lay siege against the Albingenses of the city of Tholouse vtterly to extinguish them but God preserued thē and cast such a pestilence among the Frenchmen beside famine want that they were constrained to depart Simon de monte forti general of the army to whom the land of the Earle of Tholouse was giuen by the pope was slaine with a stone before the gate of the citie Ann. 1221. first entred the Frier minorites or gray Friers into the land and had their first house at Canterbury Frier minorits in England had their first patrone Franciscus which died ann 1227. and his order was cōfirmed by P. Honorius 3. an 1224. About their comming in many english men came into their order Iohannes de sancto Egidio Alexander de Hales amōg whō was Iohan. de sācto Egidio a famous phisitiō astronomer Alexander de Hales Not long after by Williā de longa Spata which was the bastard sonne of king Henry 2. and Earle of Salisbury the house of Carthusian Carthusians mōks was first founded at Heitrop anno 1222. whose wife Ela after his death founded the house of Nunnes at Lacocks there continued her selfe Abbesse of the place Not long after began the new building of the minster of Salisbury
but hée giueth full remission of all manner of sinnes whatsoeuer to all them that would bestow any thing to the Monastery of S. Bartholmew by Smithfield resorting to the said Church any of these daies following On maundy thursday goodfriday the feast of the Annunciation from the first ensuing to the latter But within the same yéere hée died and after him succéeded Iohn 23. Pope Iohn 23. In the time of Alexander great trouble grew in Bohemia by reason of the bookes of Iohn Wickliffe which were embraced of diuerse but specially of Iohn Husse Iohn Husse by whose means the people began to grow to great knowledge wherof complaint was made to Alexander 5. that caused by by Iohn Husse to be cited vp to Rome when he came not directed his letters to the archb Swinco charging him to forbid that way condemne such as he should apprehend for heretikes except they would recant Against which Bull Husse obiected many things shewed how it stood against the word of God An appeale to the same better aduised and therefore saith he from this mandate of pope Alexander I doo appeale to the said Alexander being better aduised And so as he was prosecuting his appeale immediatly Alexander died Then Swinco when he saw that Iohn Husse contemned the bull and had no hope in Vinceslaus the king of redresse he wēt to complaine to Sigismund king of Hungary and brother to Vinceslaus with whom after hée had spoken immediatly he died for sorrow By reason of whose death the Gospell tooke roote among the Bohemians Pope Iohn 23. bendeth all his power against the Bohemiās which held not long for Iohn the 23. bent all his might against the Bohemians About the yéere 1412. Thomas Arūdell brought into England the tolling of Auies in honor of our lady with certaine Auies to bee saide The tolling o Auies and daies of pardon to bee giuen for the same and for the ratifying hereof he directeth his mandate to the B. of London He graunted to euery one that shoulde say the Lords praier and salutation of the Angel fiue times at the morning peale with a deuout mind totiens quotiens 40. daies of pardon for saying Auies how oft soeuer 40. daies of pardon This Archb. was so proud that because the bels of London did not ring at his comming to the citie Bels steeple organs suspended by a proud Bishop he suspended both belles stéeple and organs til the ministers of such churches might attaine to the benefite of grace and mercie For this cause of ringing belles debate also fel betwéene the B. of Worcester and Pryor of the towne insomuch that the Archb. was saine to take vp the matter betwixt them such was the pompe and pride of Prelates in those daies Not vnlike was the dealing of William Courtney Predecessour to Arundell who because certaine poore men did not bring litter for his horse in cartes but in sackes did call and cite them before him sitting in his tribunal seate Pro littera A contention pro littera for litter that is for litter after his owne Latine and after their submission enioyned them penance that they going leisurely before procession Penance for bringing litter in sacks not in Carts euery one of them should carry openly his sacke or bagge stuffed with hay and straw so that the hay and straw might appeare hanging out of the mouths of the sacks being open the names of the poore men were Hugh Pennie Iohn Forestall Iohn Boy Iohn Wanderton William Hayward and Iohn White tenaunts to the Lorde of Wingham In this kings time diuers actes were established against the authoritie of the Pope and excesse of his Cleargy In the first yéere it was obiected against Richard 2. that he procured letters Apostolicall from the Pope to confirme certaine statutes of his which seemed to the Parlement to tend to the disgrace of the crowne and dignity and against the liberties of the land In the 2. yéere it was required in the Parlement that all such persons as should be arrested by force of the statute made against the Lollards in the 2. yeere of king Henry the the fourth may bée bayled and fréely make their purgation In the eight yéere it was propounded that none shoulde sue to the Church of Rome for anie Benefice collation or presentation of the same vnder paine of the statute of Prouisoes made in the 13. yéere of Richard the 2. whereunto the king graunted Item in the same parlement it was put vp in petition that the King might enioy halfe of the profites of anye Parsons benefice not resident thereon wherevnto the king answered that Ordinaries shoulde doe their dueties therein or els he woulde prouide further remedy or staye their pluralities The 9. yéere of the kings raigne the commons required the king that none presented be receiued by any ordinarie to haue any benefice of any incumbent for any cause of priuation or inhabitation wherof the processe is not foūded vpon Citation made within the realme and also that such incumbents may remaine in all their benefices vntil it be proued by due inquest in the court of the K that the citations whervpon such priuations inhabitations are granted were made within the realme if such ordinaries do or haue presented or others doe present to the contrary that thē they and their procurators c. incurre the pain conteined in the statute made against prouisoes ann 13. Richard 2. Also that no Popes collectour shoulde from thenceforth leuie any money within the realme for first fruits of any ecclesiastical dignitie vnder paine of incurring the statute of prouisoes A bill in Parlement to take the temporalties from the Cleargy Besides in the same parlement the commons of the land put vp a bill vnto the king to take the temporalties out of the spiritual mens hand The effect of the bill was that the temporalties disorderly wasted by men of the Church might suffice to finde the king fiftéene Earles fiftéene hundred knights sixe thousand two hundred Squires and an hundred houses of almes more then were in those dayes in the land And ouer all these charges the K. might put yerelie in his Cofers 20000. l. Prouided that euery Earle should haue of yerelie rent 3000. markes euery knight 100 markes and foure Plow land euery Squire 40. markes by the yere with two plow land and euery almes house with ouersight of two true Seculars to euerie house and also with prouision that euerie Township should kéepe al poore people Towne-dwellers which might not labor for their liuing with condition that if mo fell in a towne than it was able to mainteine the said almes houses to reléeue such townes And to beare these charges they alledged by their bill that the Temporalties being in the possession of Spiritual men amounted to thrée hundred and two and twentie thousande markes by the yere whereof they affirmed to be in the sea