was most painfully pinched and tortured with sundry punishments. In all which notwithstanding he shewed a constant heart, and invincible faith, having in the midst of his torments these words in his mouth: "There is nothing in my mind that can be compared to the kingdom of heaven: neither is all the world, if it were weighed in a balance, to be compared with the price of one soul; who is able to separate us from the love of Jesus Christ our Lord? Shall afliction or anguish? I have thus learned of my Lord and my king, not to fear them which kill the body and have no power to kill the soul, but to fear him rather, who hath power to destroy both body and soul in hell fire." To make the story short, after he had suffered manifold torments, at last the sentence of death was pronounced upon him, which was that he should be beheaded. Menas being then led to the place of execution, said, "I give thee thanks my Lord and God, who hast accepted me as a partaker of thy precious death, and hast not given me to be devoured of my fierce enemies, but hast made me to remain constant in thy pure faith unto this my latter end." And so this blessed soldier fighting valiantly under the banner of Christ, lost his head, and won his soul.

Basil, in a certain sermon concerning forty martyrs, mentions this story, not unworthy to be recorded. There came into a certain place, the emperor's marshal or officer, with the edict which the emperor had issued against the christians, that whoever confessed Christ, should after many torments suffer death. And first they privily suborned certain to detect and accuse the christians whom they had found out, or had laid wait for. Upon this, the sword, the gibbet, the wheel, and the whips were brought forth; at the terrible sight of which, the hearts of the beholders shook and trembled. Some fled for fear, some stood in doubt what to do; some were so terrified at beholding these engines, and tormenting instruments, that they denied their faith. But some began to suffer, and for a time did abide the conflict and agony of martyrdon, but vanquished at length, by the intolerable pain of their torments, made shipwreck of their consciences, and lost the glory of their confession. Among others, there were at that time forty young soldiers, who, after the marshal had shown the emperor's edict, and required of all men obedience to the same, freely and boldly confessed themselves to be christians, and declared to him their names. The marshal, somewhat amazed at their boldness of speech, stands in doubt what was best to do. Yet forthwith he tries to win them with fair words, advising them to consider their youth, and that they should not change a sweet and pleasant life, for a cruel and untimely death: after that he promised them money and honourable offices in the emperor's name. But they little esteeming all these things, brake forth into a long and bold oration, affirming that they neither desired life, dignity, nor money, but only the celestial kingdom of Christ, saying further, that they are ready for the love and faith they have in God, to endure the affliction of the wheel, the cross and the fire. The rude marshal being herewith offended, devised a new kind of punishment. He had seen in the middle of the city a certain great pond, which lay exposed to the cold northern wind, for it was in the winter time; he caused them all to be put into this pond, and kept there all that night; but they comforting one another, received this their appointed punishment with cheerfulness, and said, as they were putting off their clothes, "We put off not our clothes, but we put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lust. We give thee thanks, O Lord, that with this our apparel we may also put off by thy grace, the sinful man; for by means of the serpent we once put him on, and by the means of Jesus Christ we now put him off." When they had thus said, they were brought naked into the place where they felt most vehement cold; insomuch that their bodies became stiff therewith. As soon as it was day, they were brought to the fire, in which they were consumed, and their ashes thrown into the flood.

In this fellowship and company of martyrs, we cannot

leave out, or forget the history of Cyrus. This Cyrus was a physician born in Alexandria, who, flying into Egypt in the persecution of Dioclesian and Maximinian, led a solitary life in Arabia, being much spoken of for his learning. After a certain time one John, born in the city of Edessa, joined himself to Cyrus, leaving the soldier's life, which before that time he had exercised. But while the persecution raged in a city in Egypt, called Canope, a certain godly christian woman, called Athanasia, and her three daughters, Theoctiste, Theodota, and Eudoxia, with whom Cyrus was well acquainted, were cast into prison for the confession of their faith: he, fearing their weakness, accompanied with his brother John, came and visited them for their better confirmation, at which time, Lirianus was chief captain and lieutenant of Egypt, of whose wickedness and cruelty, especially against females, Athanasius makes mention in his apologies, and in his epistles. This Cyrus, therefore, and John, being accused and apprehended, as those by whose persuasions the daughters of Athanasia despised the gods and the emperor's religion, and could not be brought to do sacrifice, were, after the publication of their constant confession, put to death by the sword. Athanasia also, and her three daughters, being condemned to death.

There was a lieutenant-general of Dioclesian named Sebastian, born in France, who, by his exhortations, encouraged many martyrs of Christ to constancy, and kept them in the faith. He being, therefore, accused to the emperor, was commanded to be apprehended, and brought into the open field, where he was thrust through the body with innumerable arrows by his own soldiers. Other martyrs suffered with Sebastian, among whom were Nicostratus, with Zoe his wife; Tranquillinus, with Martia his wife; Traglinus, Claudius, Castor, Tibertius, Castellus, Marcus, and Marcellinus, with many others.

In a certain exhortation of Ambrose, he commends the martyrdoms of Agricola and Vitalis, who suffered also in the same persecution. This Vitalis was servant to Agricola, who both had determined to give their lives with other martyrs, for the name of Christ. Vitalis, being sent before by his master, to offer himself to martyrdom, fell first into the hands of persecutors, who laboured by all means to cause him to deny Christ; which, when he would in no case do, but stoutly persisted in the confession of his faith, they began to exercise him with all kind of torments, so unmercifully, that there was no whole skin left on all his body. So Vitalis, in the midst of the agony and painful torments, in a short prayer commended himself to God, and gave up his life. After him, the tormentors set upon Agricola, his master, whose virtuous manners being singularly well liked, and known to the enemies, his suffering was the longer deferred. But Agricola not abiding the long delay, and driving off, and provoking the adversaries to be quicker, was, at length, fastened to the cross, and so finished his martyrdom, which he so long desired.

No less worthy of commemoration is the lamentable martyrdom of Vincentius. This Vincentius was a Spanish priest, a godly and virtuous man, who at this time suffered martyrdom at Valence, under Dacian, the president. Bergomensis gives an account of his martyrdom, taken out of a certain sermon of St. Augustine, as follows: "Our heart conceived not a vain and fruitless sight, (as it were in beholding of lamentable tragedies), but certainly a great and marvellous sight, and with singular pleasure received it, when the painfu, passion of victorious Vincentius was read to us. Is there any so heavy hearted that will not be moved in the contemplation of this immoveable martyr, so manly, or, rather so godly, fighting against the craft and subtilty of that Serpent, against the tyranny of Dacian, against the horrors of death, and by the mighty Spirit of his God, conquering all? But let us in few words rehearse the number of his torments, though the pains thereof cannot be expressed in many words. First, Dacian caused the martyr to be laid upon the rack, and all the joints of his body distended, until they cracked again. This being done in the most extreme and cruel manner, all the

members of his painful body were grievously pierced with deadly wounds. Thirdly, they tore his flesh with iron combs sharply filed. And in order that the tormentors might not omit any cruelty on the meek and mild martyr's flesh, they themselves also were scourged at the president's commandment. And lest his pains might seem too easy, they laid his body, being all out of joint, on an iron grate, and tearing it with iron hooks, they seared it with fiery plates, sprinkling him with burning salt. Last of all, this mighty martyr was cast into a dungeon, the floor of which was thickly spread with the sharpest shells that could be got, his feet being then fast locked in the stocks, he was left alone without any worldly comfort; but the Lord his God was with him, the Holy Spirit of God (whose office is to comfort the godly afflicted), filled his heart with joy and gladness. Hast thou prepared a terrible rack, (O, cruel tyrant! O, devouring lion !) for the martyr's bed? the Lord shall make that bed soft and sweet unto him. Dost thou rack his bones and joints all asunder? His bones, his joints, his hairs, are all numbered. Dost thou torment his flesh with mortal wounds? the Lord shall pour abundantly into all his sores of his oil of gladness. Thy scraping combs, thy sharp fleshhooks, thy hot searing irons, thy parched salt, thy noisome prison, thy cutting shells, thy pinching stocks, shall all work together for good, to this patient martyr. All shall work contrary to thy expectation, he shall reap great joy into the barn of his soul, out of this mighty harvest of pains that thou hast brought him into. Yea, thou shalt find him Vincentius indeed, that is, a vanquisher, a triumpher, a conqueror, subduing thy madness by his meekness, thy tyranny by his patience, thy manifold tortures by the manifold graces of God, wherewith he is plentifully enriched."

In this catalogue of holy martyrs, that suffered in this tenth persecution, there are very many more mentioned in various authors, beside them whom we have hitherto comprehended, as Philoromus, a man of noble birth, and great possessions in Alexandria, who, being persuaded by his friends to favour himself, to consider his wife and children, not only rejected their counsels, but also was not moved by the threats and torments of the judge, but kept the confession of Christ inviolate unto death, and was beheaded.

Of like dignity also was Procopius in Palestine, who, after his conversion, brake his images of silver and gold, and distributed the same to the poor, and after all kind of torments, racking, cording, tearing his flesh, goring stabbing, and firing, at length had his head also smitten off.

To these may be added also Georgius, a young man of Cappadocia, who, stoutly inveighing against the impious idolatry of the emperors, was apprehended and cast into prison, then torn with hooked irons, burnt with hot lime, stretched with cords, after that his hands and feet with other members of his body being cut off, at last had his head cut off with a sword.

With these aforenamed, add also Sergius and Bacchius, Panthaleon, a physician in Nicomedia, Theodorus of the city of Amasia, Faustus a martyr of Egypt, Gereon, with three hundred and eighteen fellow martyrs, who suffered about Celeur. Hermogenes, the president of Athens, who being converted by the constancy of one Menas, and Eugraphus in their torments, suffered also for the like faith; also Samonas Gurias and Abibus. Hieron also, with certain of his confessors, under Maximinus, Judes and Domuas, who suffered with many other martyrs, above mentioned, at Nicomedia. Evelasius and Maximinus, the emperor's officers, whom Fausta, the maiden, converted in her torments. Also Thirsus, Lucius, Callinicius, Apollonius, Philemon, Asilas, Leonides, with Arrianus, president of Thebaide. Cyprian, likewise, a citizen of Antioch, who, after he had continued a long time a filthy magician, or sorcerer, at length was converted and made a deacon, then a priest, and at last the bishop of Antioch. This Cyprian, with Justina, a maiden, suffered among the martyrs. Also Glicerios at Nicomedia, Felix a minister, Fortunatus, Achilleus, deacons in the city of Valent. Arthemius of Rome,

Ciriacus, deacon to Marcellus, the bishop, Carpophorus, priest, at Thuscia, with Abundus, his deacon. Also Claudius Sirinus Antoninus, who suffered with Marcellinus, the bishop. Cucusatus, in the city of Barcinona. Felix, bishop of Apulia, with Adauctus, and Januarius his priest, Fortunatus and Septimus his readers, who suffered in the city Venusina, under Dioclesian.

No less admirable and wonderful was the constancy also of women, who in the same persecution, gave their bodies to the tormentors, and their lives for the testimony of Christ, with no less boldness of spirit, than the men themselves. Of whom we will narrate some examples, such as seem most notable, beginning with Eulalia. There is a city in Portugal called Emerita, wherein dwelt, and was brought up, a maiden born of noble parentage, whose name was Eulalia. Emerita was a rich and celebrated city, yet was it more adorned and celebrated by the martyrdom, blood, and sepulchre of this blessed Eulalia. She had refused great and honourable offers in marriage as one not delighting in courtly dalliance, neither yet taking pleasure in purple and gorgeous apparel, or costly ornaments; but forsaking and despising all these pompous allurements, she shewed herself most earnest in preparing her journey to her hoped inheritance, and heavenly patronage. As she was modest and discreet in behaviour, so was she also witty and sharp in answering her enemies. But when the furious rage of persecution forced her to join herself with God's children in the household of faith, and when the christians were commanded to offer incense and sacrifice to devils or idol gods, then the blessed spirit of Eulalia began to kindle, and being of a prompt and ready wit, and pouring out her heart before God, provoked thereby the force and rage of her enemies against her. But the godly care of her parents, fearing lest the willing mind of this damsel, so ready to die for Christ, might be the cause of her own death, hid her and kept her close at their house in the country, being a great way out of the city. She yet disliking that quiet life, and not wishing any delay, softly steals out of the doors in the night; and leaving the common road, passed through the thorny and briary places; and although the silent night was dark and dreadful, yet she had with her, the Lord and giver of light. And as the children of Israel coming out of Egypt, had by the mighty power of God, a cloudy pillar for their guide in the day, and a flame of fire in the night, so had this godly maiden, travelling in this dark night, when flying and forsaking the place where filthy idolatry abounded; she was not oppressed with the dreadful darkness of the night.

In the morning, with a bold courage she goes to the tribunal, and in the midst of them all with a loud voice crying out, said, "I pray you what a shame is it for you thus to destroy and kill men's souls, and to throw their bodies alive against the rocks, and cause them to deny the omnipotent God? Would you know (O you unfortunate) what I am? Behold, I am one of the christians, an enemy to your devilish sacrifices, I spurn your idols under my feet, I confess God omnipotent with my heart and mouth. Isis, Apollo and Venus, what are they? Maximinus himself, what is he? The one a thing of nought, for that they be the works of men's hands; the other but a castaway, because he worships them. Therefore, they are both frivolous; Maximinus is a lord of substance, and yet he himself falls down before a stone, and vows the honour of his dignity to those that are much inferior to his vassals. Why then does he oppress so tyrannically, more worthy and courageous spirits than himself? He must needs be a good guide and an upright judge, who feedeth upon innocent blood, doth rent and tear the bodies of godly men, and what is more, hath his delight in destroying and subverting the faith. "Go to therefore, burn, cut, and mangle these earthly members. It is an easy matter to break a brittle substance, but the inward mind thou shalt not hurt." Then the judge in a great rage, said, " Hangman, take her, and pull her out by the hair of her head, and torment her to the uttermost, let her feel the power of our coun try's gods, and let her know what the imperial government of a prince is. But yet, O thou sturdy girl, fain

thine ancestors touch thee?

would I have thee (if it were possible) before thou die, to revoke this thy wickedness. Behold what pleasures thou mayest enjoy by the honourable house thou camest of, thy fallen house and progeny follows thee to death with lamentable tears, and the nobility of thy kindred makes doleful lamentation for thee. What meanest thou? Wilt thou kill thyself so young a flower, and so near these honourable marriages and great dowries thou mayest enjoy? Does not the glistering and golden pomp of a bridal move thee? Does not the piety of Who is not grieved by thy rashness and weakness ? Behold here the furniture ready prepared for thy terrible death; either thou shalt be beheaded with this sword, or else with these wild beasts shalt thou be pulled in pieces, or else being cast into the fiery flames, thou shalt be consumed to ashes. What great matter is it for thee, I pray thee, to escape all this? If thou wilt but take and put with thy fingers a little salt and incense into the censers, thou shalt be delivered from all these punishments." To this Eulalia made no answer, but throws down the idols, and spurns with her feet the incense prepared for the censers. Then without further delay, the executioners took her, and pulled one joint from another, and with the talons of wild beasts tore her sides to the hard bones; she all this while singing and praising God in this wise: " Behold, O Lord, I will not forget thee; what a pleasure is it for them, O Christ, that remember thy triumphant victories, to attain unto these high dignities! and she still calls upon that holy name, all stained and imbrued with her own blood." This she sang with a bold spirit, neither lamenting nor yet weeping, but being glad and cheerful, abandoning from her mind all heaviness and grief, when as out of a warm fountain, her mangled members bathed her white and fair skin with fresh blood. Then they proceed to the last and final torment, which was not only the goring and wounding of her mangled body with the iron grate and hurdle, and terrible harrowing of her flesh, but burned her on every side with flaming torches; when the cracking flame reaching the crown of her head consumed her; so she rested in peace.

As you have now heard the christian life, and constant death of Eulalia, worthy of praise and commendation, so no less worthy was the blessed Agnes, that constant damsel and martyr of God, who as she was of honourable parents in Rome, so she lies there honourably buried. She was very young when she was first dedicated to Christ, and boldly resisted the edicts of the emperor; and would not through idolatry deny or forsake the holy faith. She willingly offered her body to hard and painful torments, not refusing to suffer whatever it should be, yea though it were death itself. She was therefore ordered to be beheaded. And when she saw a sturdy and cruel fellow stand behind her, and approaching near to her with a naked sword in his hand, "I am now glad," | said she, "and rejoice that thou art come. I will willingly receive into my bosom the length of this sword, that thus married unto Christ my spouse, I may surmount and escape all the darkness of this world. O eternal governor, vouchsafe to open the gates of heaven, once shut up against all the inhabitants of the earth, and receive, O Christ, my soul that seeks thee!" Thus speaking, and kneeling upon her knees, she prays to Christ in heaven, that her neck might be the readier for the sword. The executioner then with his bloody hand finished her hope, and at one stroke cut off her head, and by such short and swift death prevented her feeling the pain of it.

I have oftentimes before complained, that the histories of saints have been mixed up with many false additions, and fabulous inventions of men, who either of a superstitious devotion, or of a subtle practice, have so mangled their histories and lives, that very few remain simple and uncorrupt. This I especially find in the history of good Katherine, whom I have now in hand; although I do not doubt that there was great holiness in her life, excellency in her knowledge, constancy in her death, yet that all things be true that are told of her, I do not affirm, neither am I bound to think so. Of the many strange fictions of her some seem incredible, some impudent.

As where Petrus de Natalibus writing of her conversion declares, how that Katharine sleeping before a certain picture or table of the crucifix, Christ with his mother Mary appeared unto her; and when Mary had offered her unto Christ to be his wife, he first refused her for her blackness! The next time she being baptized, Mary appearing again, offered her to marry with Christ, who then being pleased, was espoused to him and married, having a golden ring the same time put on her finger in her sleep! Bergomensis writes, that because in the sight of the people she openly resisted the emperor Maxentius to his face, and rebuked him for his cruelty, she was committed to prison. The same night an angel came to her, comforting her and exhorting her to be strong and constant unto the martyrdom, for she was accepted in the sight of God, and that the Lord would be with her, and that he would give her a mouth and wisdom which her enemies should not withstand; with many other things which I here omit. I also omit concerning the fifty philosophers, whom she convicted in disputation, and converted to our religion, and who died martyrs for the same. At length, after she had endured the rack, and the four sharp cutting wheels, she was beheaded, and so finished her martyrdom.

Among the works of Basil, a certain oration is extant concerning Julitta the martyr, who came to her martyrdom by this occasion. A certain avaricious and greedy person of great authority, violently took from her all her goods, lands, chattels, and servants, contrary to all equity and right. She complained to the judges; a day was appointed when the cause should be heard. The spoiled woman, and the spoiling extortioner stood forth together: the woman declared her cause, the man, frowningly, beheld her face. When she had proved that the goods were her own, and that he had dealt wrongfully with her, the wicked extortioner, preferring vile worldly substance to the rightful claims of a christian body, affirmed her action to be of no force, because she was an outlaw in not observing the emperor's gods. His allegation was allowed as good. Whereupon incense and fire were prepared for her to worship the gods, and unless she would do this, neither the emperor's protection, laws, or judgment, should be extended to her, nor should she enjoy life in that commonwealth. When this handmaid of the Lord heard these words, she said, "Farewell life, welcome death; farewell riches, welcome poverty. All that I have, if it were a thousand times more, I would rather lose, than speak one wicked and blasphemous word against God my Creator. I yield thee, O my God, most hearty thanks for this gift of grace, that I can contemn and despise this frail and transitory world, esteeming christian profession above all treasures. After this, when any question was demanded, her answer was, "I am the servant of Jesus Christ." Her kindred and acquaintance flocking to her, advised her to change her mind; but that she refused, with detestation of their idolatry. Forthwith the judge condemned her to the fire, and the joyful martyr embraced the sentence as a most sweet and delectable thing. She prepares herself for the flames, in countenance, gesture and words, declaring the joy of her heart, and then embracing the fire, she sweetly slept in the Lord.

Beside these, divers godly women have been faithful martyrs. Barbara, a noble woman in Thuscia, after miserable imprisonment, sharp cords, and burning flames put to her sides, was at last beheaded. Fausta, a maiden, suffered under Maximinus: by her Euelasius, a ruler of the emperor's palace, and Maximinus, the president, were both converted, and also suffered martyrdom. Juliana, a maiden of singular beauty, in Nicomedia, after divers agonies, suffered likewise under Maximinus. Anasia, a maiden of Thessalonica, also suffered under Maximinus. Justina, who suffered with Cyprian bishop of Antioch. Tecla, Lucia, and Agatha, were also martyrs; all of whom glorified the Lord Christ with their constant martyrdom, in this tenth and last persecution of Dioclesian.

During the time of this persecution, the following bishops of Rome succeeded each other; Caius, who succeeded Sixtus, Marcellinus, Marcellus, (whom Eusebius

before Simeon, he standing by and exhorting them with comfortable words; admonishing them to stand firm and steadfast in the Lord; preaching and teaching them concerning death, resurrection, and true piety; and proving by the scriptures that which he had said to be true, declaring moreover, that it was true life indeed so to die, and that it was death indeed to deny or betray God for fear of punishment: and added further, that there was no man alive but must needs die. "For as much as it is appointed all men here to have an end. But those things which follow hereafter are eternal, which shall not come to all men after one sort. But as the condition and trade of life differ in different men, and are not in all men like, so the time shall come, when all men in a moment shall receive according to their doings in this present life immortal rewards: such as have here done well, life and glory; such as have done evil, perpetual punishment." With these words of comfortable exhortation, the holy martyrs willingly yielded up their lives to death. After whom at last followed Simeon, with two other priests or ministers of his church; Abedecalaas and Ananias, which also with him were partakers of the same martyrdom.

Hormisdas, Papas, Jacobus, Romas, Maares, Agas, Bochres, Abdas, Abiesus, Joannes, Abramius, Agdelas, Sabores, Isaac, Dausas, Bicor also with Maureanda his fellow bishop, and the rest of his churches under him, to the number of two hundred and fifty persons. It is not possible for any history to comprehend the whole multitude of those that suffered in this persecution, the manner of their apprehension, the cruelness of their torments, how and in what places they suffered. The number of them that can be reckoned comes to the sum of sixteen thousand men and women.

The rumour of this miserable affliction of the christians in the kingdom of Persia, coming to the ears of the Emperor Constantine, put him in great heaviness, not knowing how to help in the matter, which indeed was very difficult for him to do. At the same time it happened that certain ambassadors were at Rome from Sapor, king of Persia; to whom Constantine readily granted all their requests, thinking thereby to obtain the more friendship at their king's hands, and that at his request he would be good to the christians; he wrote, therefore, to Sapor in their behalf, and sent his epistle by the ambassadors:

The following year, upon the same day, when the christians celebrated the remembrance of the Lord's passion, which we call Good Friday before Easter, Sapor the king issued a cruel and sharp edict throughout all his land, condemning to death all who confessed themselves to be christians. So that an innumerable multitude of christians, through the wicked procuring of the maiignant magicians, suffered death by the sword, both in the city and the towns. Some being sought for, and some offering themselves willingly, lest they should seem by their silence to deny Christ. Thus all the christians that could be found were slain, and many also of the king's own court and household. Amongst whom was Azades an eunuch, one whom the king loved and favoured. After the king understood that Azades was put to death, being very sorry for him, he commanded that no christians should be slain except those who were the doctors and teachers of the christian religion.

In the same time it happened that the queen fell into a severe disease; upon which the cruel Jews, with the wicked magicians, falsely accused Trabula, the sister of Simeon the martyr, with another sister also of hers, of having wrought privy charms to hurt the queen, for the revenging of the death of Simeon. This accusation being believed, innocent Trabula, with her sister, were condemned and cut asunder with a saw, whose quarters being hung upon stakes, the queen passed between them, thinking thereby to be delivered of her sickness.

Now as the king had commanded that no christians should be put to death, but only such as were the teachers and leaders of the flock, the magicians left no means untried to set forward the matter. Whereby great affliction and persecution arose among the bishops

and teachers of the church.

Miserable, and almost innumerable were the slaughters under the reign of this Sapor, of bishops, ministers, deacons, monks, nuns, and other ecclesiastical persons, who cleaved to the doctrine of Christ, and suffered for The names of the bishops, besides the other multitude taken in the persecution are, Barbasimes, Paulus, Gaddiabes, Subinus, Mareas, Mocius, Johannes,

the same.

more merciful to him, if he would embrace the godly piety and truth of the christians, &c. And in the end of the epistle Constantine adds these words :-" What joy-what gladness would it be to my heart, to hear that the state also of the Persians flourishes, as I wish it to do, by your encouraging the christians? So that both you with them, and they with you, in long prosperity may enjoy as much felicity together as your hearts would desire, and in so doing no doubt ye shall. For so shall you have God, who is the Author and Creator of all this universal world, merciful and gracious to you. These men, therefore, I commend to you upon your kingly honour, and upon your clemency and piety wherewith you are endued, I commit them to you, desiring you to receive them according to your humanity and benignity, and convenient to your estate; in so doing you will now both procure to yourself grace through your faith, and also will grant to me great pleasure and a benefit worthy of thanks."

This letter, written by Constantine to King Sapor, shews what care this godly prince had for them that believed in Christ, not only in his own monarchy, but also in all places of the world.

Under the Emperor Julian the apostate, many suffered martyrdom by the idolaters. Of the lamentable tragedy of Marcus Arethusius the bishop, Sozomen, and also Theodoret, thus write

"This man, at the commandment of Constantine, pulled down a certain temple dedicated to idols, and, instead thereof, built up a church where the christians might congregate. The Arethusians remembering the little good will that Julian bare unto him, accused him as a traitor and enemy to him. At the first, according as the scripture teacheth, he prepared himself to flee; but when he perceived that there were certain of his kinsmen or friends apprehended in his stead, returning of his own accord, he offered himself to those that thirsted for his blood. When they had got him in their possession, as men neither pitying his old age and worn years, nor abashed at the virtuous conversation of a man so distinguished, both by his life and doctrine, they first stript him naked, and pitifully beat him; then they cast him into a foul filthy sink, and then bringing him out,