Class Book_ Copyright N?_ COP/RIGHT DEPOSIT. FOXE S Book of Martyrs; BEING A HISTORY OF THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN ALL AGES. FROM THE ORIGINAL WORK BY JOHN FOXE, NEWLY REVISED AND ILLUSTRATED. CONTAINING ALSO A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BIBLE; Telling How the Bible has been Preserved to us, and Explaining its Principal Revisions and Translations. 60 FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS. PUBLISHED BY THE CHARLES FOSTER PUBLISHING CO. PHILADELPHIA. ■ U i TZTb • COPYRIGHT 1895 BY WILLIAM A. FOSTER. PREFACE The records of the past contain little that is of more thrilling interest than the stories of Christian Martyrs. Assailed in the early centuries after Christ by their pagan foes, and in later years by enemies who professed, themselves, to be the followers of a gentle and merciful Saviour — yet who seem to have been destitute of human pity or compassion — these brave upholders of our faith were imprisoned, tortured, and slain by' thousands. In an age of religious liberty such as the present, when justice, and the freedom, happiness, and well-being of the multitude are jealously guarded — when offenders against the laws are subjected to no avoidable physical pain, and even science is called upon to provide for the most dan- gerous of them the least painful of deaths — it is with amazement that we read of the barbarous punishments of the past. Appalling as some of these accounts of "man's inhumanity to man" may be, yet it is only by their preservation that we, who live in happier times, can properly appreciate the blessings we enjoy, and be enabled to compare our present freedom with the tyranny and injustice of earlier days. But a few hundred years ago the most cruel punishments were inflicted, not merely upon criminals dangerous to the State, but upon innocent men and women, the best and noblest people of their time, whose only offence was a refusal to renounce their faith in a religion dearer to them than life. The steadfast courage of the Martyrs, when confronted with death in terrible forms, almost leads us to believe they could not have been mere VI PREFACE. human creatures, subject to the same fears, having the same love of life, affections, and sensibility to pain as ourselves ; but another order of beings, so formed as to be indifferent to physical suffering and proof against mental weakness. But the records of their lives proves this not to be so. Their words, their acts, their writings, their often impassioned defence, and affec- tionate leave-taking of family and friends show them to have been of the very same flesh and blood as we of to-day ; only differing in being upheld by a fiery zeal and fervent faith which grew stronger with persecution, defied prisons and tormentors, and shone yet brighter than the flames in which their bodies finally perished. Histories of the Martyrs have for centuries held a high place in Christian literature ; for ages works of this kind have been found side by side with the sacred writings and books of devotion. Some of the stories in the present volume have been drawn from these sources ; those telling of early persecutions being traditional and from the pens of ancient writers about the church, while those of a later period are from Foxe's Book of Mar- tyrs. From whatever source taken, however, only such stories have been selected as are best adapted for general reading ; they have also, in many instances, been re-written for this book. At the same time effort has been made to retain in them, as far as possible, the quaint style and graphic descriptions which characterize the originals. The stories have also been connected together by a brief outline of history, which is intended to assist the reader in tracing the progress of Christianity, and the Bible, from early times throughout the principal nations of the world. INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE i. Christian Martyrs in the Roman Colosseum . . . Frontispiece. 2. St. Stephen is Stoned to Death 25 3. Crucifixion of St. Andrew 31 4. Nero's Torches 39 5. Christians are Slain by the Pagans 49 6. Perpetua and Felicitas in the Arena 69 7. The Persians Take Antioch and Torture the Christians . 79 m 8. Martyrdom of St. Lawrence 87 9. The Emperor Valerian in the Hands of the Persians ... 93 ^ 10. Zoe Put to Death for Refusing to Worship Mars 97 11. St. Alban Refuses to Kneel to the Statue of Jupiter ... 101 v 12. St. Sebastian Shot with Arrows . . . 107 s vii Vlll INDEX of illustrations: PAGE 13. Eulalia Given to the Soldiers 115. 14. Irene Burned at Thessalonica , . 119^ 15. Persecution of the Christians by the King of Persia ... 133 / 16. Severus Scourged for Refusing to Worship Venus 141 V 17. Marcus is Stung to Death by Wasps . 145 . 18. Telemachus Slain in the Arena 157 19. Bishop Boniface Slain by Barbarians 169 20. The Danes Take Archbishop Alphage 175 21. Waedenses Take Refuge in a Cave 183 v 22. City of Bezieres Taken and the People Slain 189 * 23. Death of Count Simon of Montfort 201 24. The Men of Rosa Roll Down Stones 211 25. Waldenses Drowned at Venice 217 26. The Turks Take Constantinople 227 27. Tortures of the Inquisition :— the Rope and Pulley .... 237 28. Tortures of the Inquisition :— the Rack 243 29. Strangled in a Spanish Prison m 251 30. Auto de Fe in Spain 255 tNDEX OP TLLUSTRATIOMS. IX PAGE 31. Tin: Burning of John Huss 269 . 32. Jerome of Prague in the Stocks 273 33. Massacre of Huguenots at Paris 291 34. Sixty Huguenots Slain at Vassy 301 35. Prince of "Wales Tries to Save Badby 329 36. Execution of Sir John Oldcastle 331 37. Burning Tyndale's Testaments in London 355 38. William Tyndale, the Translator, is Strangled 363 39. John Lambert's Trial before Henry VIII 371 40. Kerby Replies to Dr. Rugham 403 41. Saunders' Wife and Child Visit Him in Prison 427 42. Rowland Taylor Parts from His W t ife and Children . . . 447 43. Rawlins W t hite Kneeling at the Stake 461 44. Thomas Hawkes Keeps His Promise to His Friends 467 45. Ridley and Latimer are Burned at Oxford 485 46. John Philpot in Newgate Prison 489 47. Cranmer's Confession 505 48. Cranmer's Death: — "This Unworthy Right Hand" 507 X INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE 49. Thirteen Martyrs at Stratford-le-Bow 513 ^ 50. Palmer's Mother Turns Him Away 517 '* 51. Ten Martyrs at Lewes 531 52. Burning of Cicely Ormes 535 . 53. Edmund Tyrrel and Rose Allen 539 54. The Sheriff Visits Mrs. Joyce Lewis 545 55. John Noyes Seized at His Door 551 56. The Arrest at the Saracen's Head 559 57. cuthbert slmson refuses to answer 563 58. John Fetty and His Son in Lollards' Tower 569 59. Thomas Hinshaw Maltreated at Fulham 575 ' 60. Richard Yeoman and John Dale Taken to Bury 581 THE. WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS, CHAPTER I The first Christian Martyrs were those who suffered under the persecution of the Romans in the early ages of the Church. For two hundred and forty years, or from about the year 64 after Christ to the time of the emperor Constantine (306), the cruel punishments inflicted upon the Christians by their heathen enemies are described by the ancient historians as being as various and horrible as the mind of man, inspired by the devil, could invent. " Some," we are told, " were slain with the sword ; some burned with fire ; some scourged with whips ; some stabbed with forks of iron ; some fastened to the cross or gibbet ; some drowned in the sea ; some had their skins plucked off; some were stoned to death ; some killed with cold ; some starved with hunger ; some, with their hands cut off or otherwise disabled, were left naked, to the open shame of the world. Yet, notwithstanding the sharpness of their torments, such was the constancy of those who suffered — or rather, such was the power of the Lord in his saints — that they generally remained faithful to the end." 11 12 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. The first Martyr to our holy religion — He who gave up his place in paradise, endured a life of hardship upon earth, and at last suffered a lingering death upon the cross, that mankind might be saved from eternal punishment for sin — was Jesus Christ himself. His history has been handed down to us in the New Testament, but it may be proper here to give a brief outline of it before beginning to tell of the men and women who afterward endured martyrs' deaths for His sake. A SHORT HISTORY OF CHRIST'S EIFE ON EARTH. In the reign of Herod, king of the Jews, an angel of the Lord appeared to a young woman whose name was Mary. This maiden lived in Nazareth, a town of Galilee. She was betrothed to a man named Joseph, who was a carpenter. The angel told Mary that she was highly favored by God above all women, for she should have a son, not by man but by the Holy Spirit. And the angel said, " He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest ; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David : and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever ; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Birth of Jesus. After this, Mary and her husband Joseph left Nazareth and went to Bethlehem in Judea, in order to pay a tax that had been ordered by the Roman emperor. Each man went to his own city to be taxed, and Joseph went, with his wife, to the city of David, which was called Bethlehem, "because he was of the house and lineage of David." The town was so crowded that the only lodgings they could get were in a stable, and there, in that poor place, Mary gave birth to Jesus, the Saviour of mankind. The great event was made known to the world by a bright star in the heavens and by an angel. The Wise Men of the East saw and followed the star, while the Shepherds were visited by the angel. After this, Mary and Joseph took the infant Jesus and went to Jeru- CHRIST'S LIFE ON EARTH 1 3 salem, where they presented the child in the temple, upon which occasion Simeon, an aged man to whom it had been revealed that he should not die until he had seen the Christ, said, " Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word." Luke 2 : 29. Herod Slays the Children at Bethlehem. When Herod the king heard that a child had been born who would be called the King of the Jews, he tried to kill him ; and as he did not know the child, he sent soldiers to Bethlehem to kill all the children there not more than two years old, thinking that among them Jesus might be slain. But God sent an angel to Joseph, who told him to take the young child and his mother, and to flee into Egypt ; there- fore Herod's soldiers did not find him. When Jesus was twelve years old his parents once found him sitting in the temple at Jerusalem, among the most learned priests, both hear- ing them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. After this he went back with his parents to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. When Jesus had grown to manhood he was baptized by John the Baptist, in the river Jordan ; the Holy Ghost then descended upon him in the form of a dove, and a voice came from heaven which said, " This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." After this Jesus went into the wilderness. When he had fasted forty days and nights he was tempted by the devil, but resisted all his wiles. Jesus Performs his First Miracle. Jesus went to a city called Cana ; and there he performed his first miracle, by turning water into wine, at a marriage feast. While going through Galilee he brought back to life a nobleman's dead child. At Nazareth Jesus went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and spoke to the Jews, telling them he was the Saviour whom God had 14 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. sent down from heaven ; but the Jews were angry and would not believe him. They tried to kill him by throwing him down from the top of a steep hill on which the city was built ; but because he had the power of God they were not able to do him any harm ; and he left them and went away from Nazareth. Coming to Capernaum, Jesus preached to the people from the fish- ing boat of Peter, who afterward was his apostle ; and he sent Peter and Andrew out on the sea to draw their net, when he caused it to be filled by a miraculous number of fishes, so that the net broke and two boats would not hold them all. Jesus relieved many sick people by curing them of their diseases ; the blind, the lame, the lepers, and those possessed of evil spirits were cured merely by his word or touch. Among other kind and merciful acts, Jesus cured, at the pool of Bethesda, a paralytic man, who had been helpless and bed-ridden for thirty-eight years, bidding him take up his bed and walk. He after- ward cured a man whose right hand was shrunk up and withered. And all that were sick, or lame, or had evil spirits in them, crowded around him to touch him, so that just by his touch they might be made well. And Jesus cured them all; yet the Jews hated him and tried to find some way to put him to death. Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles. After a night spent in a desert place, praying to God, Jesus called together his disciples and followers, and chose from among them twelve men whom he named Apostles. Apostle means messenger. Jesus called these twelve whom he had chosen, apostles, because he sent them out as messengers among the people, to teach them. The names of the twelve apostles were these : Peter and Andrew, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Simon, and Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot After this Jesus went up on a little hill, which raised him above CHRIST S LIFE ON EARTH. 1 5 the crowd, and calling his disciples around him, sat down and taught them in the beautiful words of the Sermon on the Mount. Travelling from place to place, Jesus continued to teach the people, often using for this purpose parables, or stories with a double meaning. He performed wonderful miracles also, such as men had never seen before. He brought back to life the son of a widow at Nain who was being carried out to his burial ; and he made alive again the daughter of Jairus, a ruler among the Jews. Jesus Feeds the Multitude. Jesus fed a great number of people by making five loaves of bread and two fishes increase until all had enough. He walked on the sur- face of the sea ; he raised Lazarus to life after he had lain in his grave four days ; besides healing many persons who were sick, blind and lame. Many of the Jews w r hen they saw these great miracles which Jesus did, believed on him. But some went to the Pharisees and told them of what they had seen. Then the Pharisees and chief priests gathered together, and said to one another, What shall we do ? for this man w r orketh many miracles. If we let him alone, all the people will believe on him and make him their king ; and then the Romans will be angry, and come and take away our city and destroy our nation. From that time they talked with one another about some way of putting him to death. The Jews Conspire to Kill Jesus. The feast of the passover, which was celebrated by the Jews every year, drew many of them to Jerusalem ; therefore the chief priests and scribes agreed together to seize Jesus when he should come to keep the feast. Jesus knew that they had planned to take him, and told his disciples, two days before the feast, that he would be betrayed and put to death, but would rise again from the dead on the third day. When Peter heard this he was surprised, and said, " No, these things 1 6 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. shall not happen to thee." He thought, as did all the other disciples, that their Saviour had come to set them free from the Romans and make them into a kingdom, and to reign over them like other earthly kings. For although they saw he was now a poor man, they did not think he would stay so, but expected he would soon become rich and great and would make them great also. They had not yet learned that he had come to rule only in their hearts, and to have his kingdom there ; and that, instead of fighting battles for them and ruling over them as a king, he was going to die on the cross for their sins. Now when the time came for Jesus to be betrayed, Judas Iscariot, one of the apostles, went to the chief priests and asked them how much money they would give him if he would deliver Jesus into their hands ; and they agreed to pay him thirty pieces of silver. From that time he tried to find Jesus alone, that he might betray him to them. The Last Supper. Jesus went to eat the feast of the passover at Jerusalem, with his twelve apostles ; and as he sat with them he told the apostles that it was the last time he would eat with them. He told them that he would not eat again of the lamb that had been sacrificed, until he himself had been sacrificed for the sins of the people ; and he said that one of the twelve who sat there with him would betray him. The apos- tles were astonished at this, and began, each of them, to say to him, Lord, Is it I ? Is it I ? Jesus said it was the one he would give a piece of bread to, after he had dipped it in the dish. When he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot ; and Judas rose up from the table and went out into the street. While they were at table, Jesus took some bread in his hands, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave the pieces to the apostles. And he said to them, Take it and eat it, for this is my body, which is broken for you. He meant that the bread was like his body, and that it repre- CHRIST'S LIFE ON EARTH. 1 7 sented his body, because his body was very soon to be broken, and wounded on the cross, for them and for us all. After he had given them the bread, he took some wine in a cup, and gave thanks, and handed it to the apostles and told them to drink of it. He said, This wine is my blood which is shed for the forgive- ness of sins. He meant that the wine was like his blood, and that it represented his blood, because his blood was very soon to be poured out from the wounds in his hands and his feet, while he was being nailed to the cross. And the reason he would let himself be nailed there was, because he wanted all the people in the world to have their sins forgiven. Then he told the apostles that after he was dead, they should meet together and eat of the bread and drink of the wine, in the same way that he had shown them. And whenever they did it, he said, they should remember him. Judas Betrays Jesus. After supper they went out from the house to the mountain called the Mount of Olives, which was not far from Jerusalem. And they came into a garden that was there, called the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus went a little way from the apostles to a place by himself, and kneeled down on the ground and prayed, and while he prayed he was in an agony, for he was suffering for the sins of all mankind. Now Judas was watching for a time when he could betray Jesus to the chief priests. And because it was night, and the garden was a lonely place, and only the apostles were with Jesus, Judas thought that this was the best time to betray his Master. So he went to the chief priests and Pharisees, and told them where Jesus had gone. Then they called together a band of men and gave them swords and clubs to fight with, and sent them with Judas to take Jesus. Jesus knew they were coming, yet he did not make haste to 15 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. go away, but waited to let them take him, because he knew that the time had come for him to die. While he was yet speaking to the apostles and telling them that the one who would betray him was coming near, Judas came, and the band of men with him carrying swords and clubs and lanterns. Now Judas had told these men how they should know which one was Jesus. He had said to them, The one I shall kiss is he ; take him and hold him fast. Then Judas came to Jesus and pretended he was glad to see him ; he said, Master, Master, and kissed him. But Jesus said to him, Judas, dost thou betray me to my enemies by a kiss ? Then the men whom the chief priests had sent, when they saw Judas kiss him, took hold of Jesus and bound him with fetters, to take him away. When the apostles saw them do this to their Master whom they loved, they wanted to fight against them. They said to Jesus, Lord, shall we fight them with swords ? And Peter, who had a sword, drew it out of the sheath, and struck one of the men and cut off his right ear. But Jesus told Peter to put his sword back again into its sheath. His Father, he said, would send thousands of angels to fight for him and save him from dying, if he would ask for them. And he stretched out his hand and touched the man's ear that Peter had struck with the sword, and made it well again. Then the apostles, being afraid of the band of men, all left Jesus and made haste to flee away. Jesus is Taken Before the High Priest. The men took Jesus and led him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. Peter followed Jesus to the house, and being asked if he was his disciple, denied it three times, as Jesus had foretold. Peter was reminded of this by the crowing of a cock, and he went out and wept bitterly. When it was morning they took Jesus before the chief court of the Jews, held in a room near the tern- CHRIST'S LIFE ON EARTH. 1 9 pie. False witnesses were brought to testify against him, but they could not prove that he had done any wrong. The high priest asked Jesus if he was the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus answered, I am. And I say unto you, Hereafter you shall see me sitting on the right hand of God, and coming back to earth again in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest was angry, and rent his clothes, and cried, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses ? Jesus Before Pontius Pilate. After the Jews had mocked Jesus, and expressed their hatred and contempt for him, they took him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, to be condemned to death. Pilate questioned Jesus, and could find no fault in him. Now 7 , every year, at the feast of the passover, it w-as the custom for the Roman governor to set free one Jewish prisoner; and there was at this time in prison one named Barabbas, w T ho was a murderer. Then Pilate said to the people, Which one shall I set free? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ? For he knew they had brought Jesus to be pun- ished only because they hated him. While Pilate was speaking with them, his wife sent word to him, saying, Do no harm to that just man, for I have been much troubled this day in a dream concerning him. But the chief priests persuaded the Jews to ask that Barabbas might be set free. Pilate answered, What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ? They all said, Let him be crucified. Pilate said, Why, what evil has he done? But they cried out the more with loud voices, Crucify him ! When Pilate saw r that he could not persuade them to ask for Jesus, he took some water and washed his hands before the people, saying, " I am innocent of the blood of this just person : see ye to it." Then answered all the Jews, " His blood be on us and on our children." 20 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. The Roman Soldiers Scourge Jesus. Then the Roman soldiers who were to put Jesus to death took him and scourged him. After they had done this they mocked him by putting on him a purple robe; and they plaited a wreath of thorns, which they put on his head. Instead of a golden sceptre, or rod, such as kings held when sitting on their thrones, they put a reed in his right hand, and they bowed down before him, pretend- ing he was a king, saying, Hail, King of the Jews ! And they took the reed from him and struck him on the head; they struck him also with their hands. After all these things had been done to Jesus, Pilate thought the Jews would be willing to let him go ; so he brought him out where the Jews could see him, with the crown of thorns on his head, and wearing the purple robe. But when the chief priests and all the Jews saw Jesus, they cried out, Crucify him ! Crucify him ! Pilate said to them, take him yourselves then and crucify him, for I find no fault in him. When Judas Iscariot saw that Jesus was really to die, he was greatly afraid for what he had done. And he came to the chief priests and rulers with the thirty pieces of silver, to give it back to them. But they would not take it, and he threw the money on the ground and went and hanged himself. Jesus is Crucified. The soldiers, after they had mocked Jesus, took off the purple robe, and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. When a person was led out to be crucified he was made to carry his cross ; but because Jesus could not carry his cross alone, the soldiers made a man named Simon, from Cyrene, help him cany it. And they brought Jesus to Mount Calvary, which was a little way from Jerusalem, and there they nailed him to the cross. Even CHRIST'S LIFE ON EARTH. 2 1 while they were crucifying him he prayed for them, saying, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Pilate made a writing and had it fastened to the cross. These were the words that he wrote : Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews. At the same time that they crucified Jesus, they crucified two thieves with him, one on a cross at his right hand, and another at his left. And the soldiers took his garments and divided them among themselves. While Jesus hung upon the cross in the agonies of death, the people mocked him and said, " If thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross." The chief priests and scribes also reviled him, and said, " He saved others ; himself he cannot save." One of the thieves who was crucified with him, also cried out, and said, " If thou be Christ, save thyself and us." But the other, having greater faith, exclaimed, " Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." To him Jesus replied, This day shalt thou be with me in paradise. From the sixth until the ninth hour — that is, from twelve until three o'clock — while Jesus was upon the cross, the earth was cov- ered with darkness and the stars appeared at noon-day, which made the people afraid. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Then one of the men standing near held up to him, upon the point of a reed, a sponge dipped in vinegar. When Jesus, therefore, had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished : and he bowed his head, and died. Then the curtain, called the veil, which hung in the temple, was torn in two from the top to the bottom; the earth shook, the rocks were broken in pieces, and the graves were opened, and many of the dead came forth. When the Roman soldiers who were watching Jesus saw these things, they feared greatly, and said, Surely this man was the Son of God! 22 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. Jesus is Buried, and Rises from the Tomb. The body of Jesus was taken down from the cross by his dis- ciples, and buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. After the burial the Jews caused a watch to be set ; for they said, His dis- ciples may come and steal him away. But in the night the angel of the Lord rolled back the stone from the door of the sepulchre. His face was bright like lightning, and his garments white as snow ; the soldiers trembled for fear of him, and fled from the sepulchre. In the morning three women came with spices to the sepulchre, but found it empty and the stone rolled away. Then they went into the sepulchre, and there they saw an angel dressed in long white garments. And the women were afraid. But the angel said to them, Be not afraid. You are looking for Jesus who was cruci- fied. He is not here, he has risen. Come and see the place where they laid him ; and then go and tell his disciples that he has risen up from the dead. And the women went out quickly and made haste away from the sepulchre, for they were greatly afraid, and yet they were full of joy to know that Jesus had risen. As they went to tell the apostles, Jesus himself met them ; and they bowed down at his feet and worshipped him. Then he told them not to be afraid, but to tell his apostles that they should go into Galilee, and there, he said, he would come and meet them. On the same day that Jesus arose, he appeared to two of his disciples who were walking together toward a village named Em- maus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And another time when the apostles were in a room together, with the door shut, Jesus came and stood among them. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, was not in the room with the others the first time Jesus appeared there to them. Therefore, when they told him they had seen the Lord, he would not believe them ; he said that unless he could, himself, see the marks of the nails and of the spear, he vould not believe that it was Jesus. After eight days had passed, C/lR/SrS LIFE ON EARTH. 23 the disciples were together again in a room ; and Thomas was with them. Jesus then appeared to them as he had done before, stand- ing in their midst. And he told Thomas to look with his own eyes upon his wounded hands and side, and to be no longer faithless, but believing. Thomas, being at last convinced, answered, My Lord and my God. Jesus Ascends to Heaven. After this Jesus showed himself several times to his disciples. When forty days were past after he had risen from the dead, he met his apostles again at Jerusalem, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it was so, that while he blessed them he was taken from them and carried up into heaven ; and went into a cloud out of their sight. And while they looked toward heaven as he went up, behold, two angels stood by them in white garments, who said. Ye men of Galilee, Why stand you gazing up into heaven ? This same Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall come down again, in the clouds, as you have seen him go up into heaven. Such is the beautiful story of the life and death, the resurrection from the tomb, and ascent to heaven, of Jesus, the Saviour of man- kind. Little is it to be wondered at, then, that heathen nations vainly have tried, by cruelty and oppression, to blot out his blessed memory from among men ; or that they have wholly failed to pre- vent the spread of that divine religion which he founded and estab- lished with his blood. CHAPTER II. THE LIVES, SUFFERINGS, AND CRUEL DEATHS OF THE APOSTLES AND EVANGELISTS. • Lonely and sorrowful the disciples must have been when their Lord had gone from them. But though they could no longer hear his voice, they knew that he looked down from heaven upon them and would be with them, and his whole church, in spirit, to the end of the world. Thus the apostles were to be helped and guided in the work he had told them to do — which was, to go out into all parts of the world and tell the people of every country that the Saviour of mankind had come, and had died upon the cross that they might be saved. There were now but eleven apostles, for Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ was no longer of them. Therefore Matthias was chosen, so the number of the apostles was twelve again ; and soon they separated to carry on the work of converting all the world to the religion of Christ. The New Testament does not tell us how long the apostles and evangelists (disciples who wrote the Gospels) lived, nor how they died ; except Stephen, who was chosen to be a deacon by the apos- tles, and who was stoned to death ; and James, the apostle, who was slain by Herod. But ancient writers and historians, who wrote down, in the early centuries after Christ, the traditions or accounts they heard concerning these holy men, tell us that nearly all of them died martyrs' deaths, after living lives of toil and hardship while preaching the gospel of Christ to the heathen world. The following are the stories which have come down to us. 24 ST. STEPHEN IS STONED TO DEATH 26 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. i. St. Stephen. St. Stephen, who is called the Proto-Martyr, or first martyr, and whose history is in the Acts of the Apostles, in the New Testament, was the first Christian man to be put to death for his faith in Jesus Christ. He thus followed next his Master in the path that leads to glory. Owing to the increasing numbers of the disciples, many of whom were poor people, complaint began to be made that some were neg- lected in the daily alms-giving. Then the apostles said, It is not right that we should cease preaching to serve tables ; so Stephen was chosen from among the Lord's disciples, with six others, to be a deacon. He helped in giving alms to the poor and also preached to the people. He was so good and holy a man that he was per- mitted to work miracles by healing the sick, and converting unbe- lievers. He preached to the Jews in words so full of power that they could not answer him nor contradict him. The principal persons be- longing to Jewish synagogues entered into debate with him, but by the soundness of his doctrine and the strength of his reasoning he overcame them all. This so angered them that they paid false witnesses to accuse him of blaspheming God and Moses. On being taken before the council, he made a noble defence : but that so much the more enraged his judges, so that they resolved to condemn him to death. At this instant, Stephen saw a vision from heaven, and in rapture he exclaimed, " Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God!" Then the Jews cried out against him, and having dragged him out of the city, they stoned him to death. After the martyrdom of St. Stephen there was a great persecu- tion against the Christians at Jerusalem : "And they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles." Nicanor, one of the deacons, and more than 2000 Chris- tians are believed to have perished during this persecution. LIVES OF THE APOSTLES. 2/ 2. St. James. St. James was a Galilean, the son of Zebedee, a fisherman, and the elder brother of the apostle John. Being one day with his father fishing in the sea of Galilee, he and his brother John were called by Jesus to become his disciples. They cheerfully obeyed the summons, and leaving their father, followed the Lord. Jesus called these brothers Boanerges, or the Sons of Thunder, on account of their vigorous minds and impetuous tempers. St. James was the first of the apostles to meet a martyr's death. Herod Agrippa, when he was made governor of Judea by the Roman emperor Caligula, raised a persecution against the Chris- tians, and especially singled out St. James as an object of his vengeance. When the apostle was led out to die, a man who had brought false accusations against him walked with him to the place of exe- cution. He had doubtless expected to see St. James looking pale and frightened, but he saw T him, instead, bright and joyous, like a conqueror who had won a great battle. The false witness greatly wondered at this, and became convinced that the Saviour in whom the prisoner by his side believed must be the true God, or he could not impart such cheerfulness and courage to a man about tc die. The man himself, therefore, became a convert to Christianity, and was condemned to die with St. James the apostle. Both were con- sequently beheaded on the same day and with the same sword. This took place in the year of our Lord 44. About the same period, Timon and Parmenas, two of the seven deacons, suffered martyrdom, the former at Corinth and the latter at Philippi in Macedonia. 3. St. Philip. This apostle was born at Bethsaida, in Galilee. He was sent on important missions into heathen countries, being deputed to preach 28 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. in parts of Asia, where he labored very diligently in his apostleship. He then travelled into Phrygia, and arriving at Hierapolis, found the inhabitants so sunk in idolatry as to worship a great serpent. St. Philip, however, converted many of them to Christianity, and even accomplished the destruction of the serpent. This so enraged the rulers, and especially the priests, who gained much money by the superstitions of the people, that they committed him to prison. He was then cruelly scourged, and afterwards crucified. His friend St. Bartholomew succeeded in taking down the body, and burying it ; but, for this, he was himself very near suffering the same fate. St. Philip's martyrdom took place eight years after that of St. James, in the year 52 after Christ. 4. St. Matthew. This apostle, evangelist, and martyr, was born at Nazareth, in Galilee, but lived chiefly at Capernaum, on account of his occupation, which was that of a tax-gatherer, or collector of tribute. On being called as a disciple, he at once left everything to follow Christ. After the ascension of his Master, he continued preaching the gospel in Judea for nine years. When about to leave Judea, in order to go and preach among the Gentiles, he wrote his gospel in Hebrew for the use of the Jewish people to whom he had preached. It was afterwards translated into Greek by St. James (the Less). He then went into Ethiopia, ordained preachers, settled churches, and made many converts. He afterwards travelled to Parthia, w r here he met his death, being slain with the sword, about the year 60. 5. St. Mark. This evangelist and martyr was born of Jewish parents, of the tribe of Levi. It is believed that he was converted to Christianity by the apostle St. Peter, whom he served as a writer, and whom he attended in all his travels. Being entreated by the converts at LIVES OF THE APOSTLES. 2Q Rome to write down the admirable discourses they had heard spoken by St. Peter, he consented, and accordingly wrote his gospel in the Greek language. The words of that gospel are, therefore, actually the words of St. Peter. He established a bishopric at Alexandria, and then went to Libya, where he made many converts. On return- ing to Alexandria, some of the Egyptians, jealous of his power, determined on his death. St. Mark was therefore seized, his feet were tied together, and he was dragged through the streets, and left bruised and bleeding in a dungeon all night. The next day they burned his body. His bones were afterward carefully gathered up by the Christians, de- cently interred, and at a later period, so one tradition tells, re- moved to Venice, of which state he is considered the tutelar saint and patron. 6. St. James (the Less). This apostle and martyr is called " the Less " to distinguish him from the apostle James, the brother of John, who is called " the Great." He was, after the Lord's ascension, elected bishop of Jeru- salem. He wrote his general epistle to all Christians and converts, to suppress a dangerous error then being circulated, which was, " That a faith in Christ was alone sufficient for salvation, without good works." The Jews of Jerusalem, being at this time greatly enraged against the Christians, determined to wreak their vengeance on St. James. The mob being incited to attack him, they fell upon him in the street, threw him down, and beat, bruised, and stoned him to death. 7. St. Matthias. This apostle and martyr was called to the apostles hip after the ascension of Christ, to supply the vacant place of Judas, who had betrayed his Master. St. Matthias was martyred at Jerusalem, being first stoned and then beheaded. 30 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. 8. St. Andrew. This apostle and martyr was the brother of St. Peter. He preached the gospel to man}- Asiatic nations. At Patrae, in Greece, the governor of the country threatened him with death for preaching against the idols which he worshipped; but St. Andrew fearlessly continued to tell the people of Christ. He was therefore sentenced to be cruci- fied on a cross made of two pieces of wood of equal length, the ends of which were fixed in the ground. He was fastened to it, not with nails, but with cords, so that his death mi^ht be more slow. An ancient writer tells of the apostle's sublime courage and fear- lessness, in the following words : " When Andrew saw the cross prepared, he neither changed countenance nor color, as the weakness of mortal man is wont to do ; neither did his blood shrink ; neither did he fail in his speech ; his body fainted not ; neither was his mind molested ; his under- standing did not fail him ; but out of the abundance of his heart his mouth did speak, and fervent charity did appear in his words. He said, " O cross, most welcome and oft-looked for ; with a will- ing mind, joyfully and desirously, I come to thee, being the scholar of Him who did hang on thee ; because I have been always thy lover, and have longed to embrace thee!" St. Andrew hung upon the cross three whole days, suffering dread- ful pain, but continuing constantly to tell the people around him of the love of Jesus Christ. The people as they listened to him began to believe his words, and asked the governor to let him be taken down from the cross. Not liking to refuse them he at last ordered the ropes to be cut, but when the last cord was severed, the body of the apostle fell to the ground quite dead. 9. St. Peter. This great apostle and martyr was born at Bethsaida, in Galilee. He was the son of Jona, a fisherman, which employment St. Peter CRUCIFIXION OF ST. ANDREW 32 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. himself followed. So firm was his faith that Jesus gave him the name of Cephas, meaning, in the Syriac language, a rock. He was called at the same time as his brother, Andrew, to be an apostle. Though ever eager and zealous in the service of Christ, St. Peter yet had the weakness to deny his Master after his seizure in the garden, though he at first defended him with his sword; but the sincerity of his repentance atoned for his denial. After the ascension of Christ, the Jews still continued to persecute the Christians, and ordered several of the apostles, among whom was St. Peter, to be scourged. This punishment they bore with the greatest fortitude, and even rejoiced that they were thought worthy to suffer for the sake of their Redeemer. When Herod Agrippa caused St. James to be put to death, and found that it pleased the Jews, he resolved that St. Peter should be the next sacrifice. He was accordingly arrested, and thrown into prison ; but an angel of the Lord came in the night and touched him, and his chains fell off, the prison doors opened, and he went out free. Herod was so angry at his escape that he ordered the sentinels who guarded the dungeon in which he had been confined, to be put to death. After performing various miracles, St. Peter went to Rome ; St. Paul being there also at this time. In the year 64, the emperor Nero (as it was believed) caused the great city to be set on fire, and looked on with enjoyment at the destruction of which he was himself the cause. Yet the wicked emperor accused the Christians of having kindled the fire which had laid in ashes the greater por- tion of Rome, and he ordered hundreds of them to be killed in various cruel ways. There was a magician at Rome during this time, named Simon Magus, who pretended that he could fly through the air, and do many wonderful things which no other man could do. Crowds came together one day to see him fly, as he had promised, and LIVES OF THE APOSTLES. 33 among the crowd were St. Peter and St. Paul. It is said that Simon Magus did indeed, at first, actually perform some wonderful feats, and the people were much surprised and impressed. But St. Peter and St. Paul then knelt down and called on the Lord to confound the magician, and bring his deeds to naught; when they had done this, Simon at once fell to the ground and broke both his legs. As Simon Magus was a great favorite of Nero's, the emperor was veiy angry at the apostles ; especially, as they had converted to Chris- tianity some of the members of that cruel tyrant's own household; so he cast St. Peter and St. Paul into prison and kept them there nine months. During this time they converted two of the captains of the guards, and forty-seven other persons, to Christianity. Hav- ing been nine months in prison, Peter was brought out for execu- tion, and after being scourged, he was crucified with his head down- wards. It is related that he himself chose this painful posture be- cause he did not think he was worthy to suffer in the same manner as the Lord. 10. St. Paul. This apostle and martyr was a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, and, before his conversion, was called Saul. From his father he inherited the rights of Roman citizenship ; prob- ably earned by some ancestor through services rendered the Roman state. Paul was at first a great enemy to the Christians, being present at the stoning of Stephen, the executioners laying their clothes at his feet. But after the death of Stephen, while Paul was on his way to Damascus, the glory of the Lord shone suddenly upon him, he was struck to the earth, and was made blind for three days. After his re- covery he was converted and became an apostle, and lastly suffered as a martyr for the religion which he had formerly persecuted. St. Paul's great abilities and earnest enthusiasm in spreading the gospel of Christ have made his name revered wherever the Chris- tian religion is known. After his wonderful conversion he went 34 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. to Jerusalem, where he saw the apostles Peter, James and John. He then went forth with Barnabas to preach. At Iconium, the two were near being stoned to death by the enraged Jews ; upon which they fled to Lycaonia. At Lystra, St. Paul was stoned, dragged out of the city, and left for dead. He, however, recovered and 'escaped to Derbe. At Philippi, Paul and Silas were imprisoned and whipped; and both were again abused at Thessalonica. Being afterwards taken at Jerusalem, St. Paul was sent to Caesarea, but ap- pealed to Caesar at Rome. Here he continued a prisoner at large for two years ; and at length being released, he visited the churches of Greece and Rome, and preached in Gaul and Spain. Return- ing to Rome, he was taken, imprisoned nine months, with St. Peter, and then martyred by the order of Nero, by being beheaded with the sword. ii. St. Jude (Judas the Brother of James). This apostle and martyr, the brother of James, was commonly called Thaddaeus. Being sent to Persia, he wrought many miracles and made many converts, which stirring up the resentment of peo- ple in power, he was crucified in the year 72 after Christ. 12. St. Bartholomew. This apostle and martyr preached in several countries, performed many miracles, and healed various diseases. He translated St. Mat- thew's gospel into the language of heathen nations. The idolaters finally slew him, some say with the sword, others that he was beaten to death with clubs. 13. St. Thomas. He was called by this name in Syriac, but Didymus in Greek; he was an apostle and martyr, and preached in Parthia and India. After converting many to Christ he aroused the anger of the pagan priests, and was martyred by being thrust through with a spear. LIVES OF THE APOSTLES. 35 14. St. Luke the Evangelist. St. Luke was the author of the gospel which bears his name. He travelled with St. Paul to Rome, and preached to many barbar- ous nations. It is not known, certainly, whether St. Luke died a natural death, or was martyred by the enemies of Christianity. 15. St. Simon. The zeal of this apostle and martyr caused him to be distin- guished by the name of Zelotes. He preached with great success in Mauritania and other parts of Africa, and even in Britain, where, though he made many converts, he was crucified by the pagans in the year 74. 16. St. John. He was distinguished for being a prophet, apostle, and evangelist. He was brother to James, and not only one of the twelve apostles, but one whom Jesus chiefly loved. St. John founded many churches in Greece. Being at Ephesus, he was ordered by the emperor Domitian to be sent bound to Rome, where he was condemned to be cast into a caldron of boiling oil. Either this sentence was not carried out, or a miracle saved him from injury, for he was afterward banished by the emperor to the island of Patmos, and there wrote that beau- tiful book which is called the Revelation of St. John the Divine, and which tells of the joys of the celestial city. At last Domitian died, and the next emperor, Nerva, was kind to the Christians, and sent St. John back to Ephesus, when he wrote his gospel. He lived to be a very old man, and died a natural death at Ephesus — some writers say in the one-hundredth year of his age. 17. St. Barnabas. He was a native of Cyprus, but of Jewish parents : the manner of his death is unknown, but it is supposed to have taken place a. d. 73. CHAPTER III. FIRST GENERAL PERSECUTION OF THE CHRISTIANS: UNDER NERO, a. d. 64. Having given in the preceding chapter the histories of the apos- tles and evangelists, as they are told in the traditions that have come down to us, we will now go back to the time of the emperor Nero. It was this cruel tyrant who put to death the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul ; and it was he who began what is called in history the " first general persecution of the Christians," in the early ages of the church. He was the sixth emperor of Rome, and the Caesar to whom St. Paul appealed when he was accused before Festus. Nero was made emperor when only sixteen years old, through the dark plots of his wicked mother Agrippina, who by poisoning her husband, the emperor Claudius, and his son, cleared the way to the throne for Nero, who was her own son by a former marriage. During the first five years of his reign the young emperor was influenced by the advice of able counsellors, and ruled wisely; but as he grew older his violent nature began to show itself. He fell under the sway of a beautiful and notorious woman, Poppaea Sabina, who was a proverb for vanity and evil living, and who was said to keep five hundred she-asses so that she might bathe in their milk, to preserve her complexion. Nero wanted to marry her, although he already had a wife, Octavia. Agrippina taking the part of the neglected wife, Nero planned his mother's death by the ingenious device of sending her to her country seat in a boat, which was cunningly contrived to fall to pieces as soon as it left the shore. 36 FIRST GENERAL PERSECUTION. 37 Agrippina saved herself by swimming to the land, but was directly afterward slain by the swords of executioners, who were despatched by her son Nero as soon as news had been brought of her escape from drowning. Octavia was divorced, sent to an island, and put to death there ; Nero then married Poppaea and gave himself up to the wildest and most reckless course of life. Throwing aside the state and dignity usually maintained by a Roman emperor, Nero would descend into the arena and mingle with the gladiators, or professional fighting-men, sometimes even taking part in the bloody scenes enacted there. This delighted the rabble, who crowded the tiers of seats in the great circus and shouted their approval, but the nobility turned with disgust from the spectacle of an emperor so degrading himself. Caring only for the applause of the mob, Nero used every means to extort money from the rich and spent it in wasteful extravagance. A huge palace, called the Golden House because of its splendid decorations, was built. This magnificent structure was of great size and surrounded by gardens, lakes, baths, and pleasure-grounds. " Now, at last," said Nero, " I am lodged as an emperor should be." In order to get money to complete this palace, accusations were brought against many rich men of Rome, who were put to death, and their property taken by the emperor. His hatred and cruelty seemed especially directed toward the higher classes. Seneca, the philosopher, Nero's former teacher and adviser, was accused, and chose to die by his own hand, by bleeding to death in a warm bath, his wife dying in the same way. So common did it become for men to receive a message sentencing them to death that they searched for easy ways of dying, so as to escape the public executioners. About this time a terrible fire broke out at Rome, which destroyed six of the fourteen quarters, or districts, of the city. For six days the fire burned furiously, and scarcely had it died down when another fire began in the opposite direction. Many ancient temples, monu- 3$ THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. ments, and works of art were ruined by the flames. The people were panic-stricken, and believed that the fire had been started by the emperor for the mere pleasure of seeing it burn. It was said that when the flames were at their height, he went up into a tower and sat there, looking down upon the burning city while he played upon his harp, and sang of the burning of Troy — saying, " I would that I might see the ruin of all things." Nero Accuses the Christians. But becoming alarmed at the hatred he had aroused in his peo- ple, and finding his throne endangered, Nero hastened into the streets, and with a free hand scattered money among the crowds until his treasury was empty. Then, with characteristic cruelty and cunning he undertook to divert the attention of the angry mob from himself by leading them to wreak their vengeance upon helpless and inno- cent victims. He therefore accused the Christians of having set fire to Rome, and ordered them to be hunted down, slain, and tor- tured in such a variety of horrible ways as awakened the pity of even the heartless Romans themselves. Nero's Torches. In particular he had some sewed up in the skins of wild beasts, and then worried by savage dogs until they expired. Others he had wrapped in tow and smeared with pitch ; they were then fast- ened to tall poles planted in the garden of his palace, and set on fire, while Nero, attended by his slaves and courtiers, reclined upon a balcony and watched the blazing of what he called his " torches." The Catacombs of Rome. In those dark days the Christians had no churches and dared not meet in public, so they tried to find some secret places where they could gather together without being disturbed. Now it hap- NERO'S TORCHES 40 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. pened that, just outside the city of Rome there were deep tunnels or caves in the rock, called catacombs, which had been dug long before to get stone for building the city. The rock had been hol- lowed out into many galleries, with here and there a vaulted cham- ber, where several passage-ways crossed or met. Slaves and convicts worked in these places, and they became known to the Christians as a safe place in which to hide. They also buried their dead in some of these caves, in niches or shelves cut in the sides of the galleries, and over the bodies they placed their names, with loving inscriptions, some of which remain plainly visible to this day. The Christians used to meet for religious services in these gloomy, under- ground chambers, in which they could worship God without fear of being thrown to the lions or given over to the flames. At night these Christian men and women might be seen stealing forth from their homes, carefully looking behind them from time to time to see that they were not followed; then, hastening to the outskirts of the great city, they entered the dark openings in the rock and passed along the gloomy galleries. Soon they heard sweet music, and a vaulted chamber, brightly lighted, came into view at the end of the dark tunnel ; men and women, dressed in white robes, were there singing a psalm of joy. Early Christian Worship. At these meetings they told each other of the trials they had suffered in their homes ; they confessed to one another their sins and doubts, or related the blessings received in answer to their earn- est prayers. In their underground church they listened to sermons from their elders, and perhaps heard read a letter from one of the apostles. They then partook of the bread and the wine, in memory of Him whose blood was shed for them, and they kissed one another when the love-feast was ended. At these meetings there was no distinction of rank ; the high- FIRST GENERAL PERSECUTION. 4 1 born lady sat by the slave whom she had once scarcely looked upon as a man. Humility and submission were among the chief virtues of the early Christians ; slavery had not been forbidden by the apostles, because it was believed that those who were the lowest in this world would be the highest in the next. Slavery was there- fore considered a state of grace, and some Christians appear to have refused their freedom on religious grounds, for St. Paul exhorts such persons to become free if they can. Spreading the Gospel. In that age every Christian was a missionary. The soldier tried to win recruits for the heavenly host; the prisoner sought to bring his jailer to Christ ; the slave girl whispered the gospel in the ears of her mistress ; the young wife begged her husband to be baptized, that their souls might not be parted after death ; every one who had experienced the joys of believing tried to bring others to the faith. Thus the numbers of the Christians rapidly increased. It began to be noised abroad that there was in Rome a secret society which worshipped an unknown God. The rulers, who believed respect for the ancient gods was necessary to the safety of the state, became alarmed and issued orders aimed against the Christians, forbidding secret meetings. Thus it came about that when any public calam- ity — pestilence, fire, famine, or flood — appeared it was blamed upon the Christians, who, it was supposed, had brought down the anger of the offended gods. Cruel Punishment of the Christians. Then came cruel laws, riots and commotions, and the terrible cry of " Christiani ad leones /" — To the lions with the Christians! — was raised by the mob and resounded through the streets of Rome. The Colosseum at Rome. Combats to the death between trained fighting-men called gladia- 42 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. tors, or between prisoners of war, slaves, criminals, and wild beasts, were the favorite amusements of the Romans. The emperor who could give the people the greatest number of these bloody enter- 1 tainments was the idol of the populace. An immense stone building, or circus, called the Colosseum, was begun by Vespasian and finished by Titus, in which to hold these great shows. Its ruins still stand, and amaze the traveller by their huge size and massive strength. Tier above tier, sloping backward from around a level central space or arena, rose seats for nearly 100,000 spectators. The outer wall was almost circular, filled with arched and pillared openings, and mounted storey upon storey to the height of 160 feet. In length the Colosseum was 612 feet, and in breadth 515 feet. The building was without a roof, and was open to the sky except during the games, when a great awning was stretched all across it, from poles fixed at regular intervals around the topmost gallery. To the Colosseum flocked the populace of the greatest city in the world, to witness scenes of cruelty and bloodshed. The emperor himself, beautiful ladies of high rank, haughty senators and nobles, as well as all the rabble of the mighty city, crowded the seats ranged around the arena and gazed pitilessly down upon men being stabbed to death by human adversaries, or torn to pieces by ravenous lions and tigers, let loose from dens under the walls. It is recorded that when the Colosseum was finished and first opened to the public, the games continued for one hundred days, and that 5000 wild beasts, brought from all parts of the then known world, were slain. It was into this blood-stained arena that many of the early Christians were brought, to suffer death in its most terrible forms. Courage and Increase of the Christians. But persecution could not diminish the ever-increasing flow of converts. It served, indeed, to make their numbers greater, for, to FIRST GENERAL PERSECUTION. 43 the Christian, death was but the beginning of eternal happiness. They therefore welcomed it almost with joy, and the sight of their cheerful countenances as they were led to execution, astonished the lookers-on, and made many inquire what this belief could be that seemed to rob death of its terrors. Thus a desire was awakened in hundreds of troubled hearts to share in the consolations which the new faith afforded believers. Many of those who lost their lives were men distinguished for their zeal and ability in spreading the gospel. The names and his- tories of some of them have come down to us, and are as follows : Aristarchus, the Macedonian. Aristarchus was a native of Thessalonica ; having been converted by St. Paul, he became his constant companion. He was with the apos- tle at Ephesus during a commotion raised in that city by Demetrius the silversmith. They both received ill-treatment upon this occasion from the people, which they bore with Christian patience, giving kind words in return for abuse. Aristarchus accompanied St. Paul from Ephesus into Greece, where they were very successful in preaching the gospel and in convincing the people of the truths of Christianity. Having left Greece, they travelled over a great part of Asia, and made a considerable stay in Judea, where they made many converts. After this, Aristarchus went with St. Paul to Rome, where he suffered the same fate as the apostle, being seized as a Christian, and beheaded by command of the emperor Nero. Trophimus. Trophimus, an Ephesian by birth, was converted by St. Paul to the Christian faith and accompanied his master on his missions to foreign lands. He was with St. Paul during his last visit to Jeru- salem ; at which time there was a violent outbreak against the apos- tle, by the Jews, who supposed that he had brought Trophimus, a 44 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. Greek, into the temple. Lysias, the captain of the guard, interfered and rescued St. Paul by force from the hands of his enemies. Leaving Jerusalem, Trophimus went with St. Paul first to Rome, and then to Spain. When passing through Gaul, the apostle made him bishop of that province, and left him in the city of Aries. About a year after, he paid a visit to St. Paul in Asia, and went with him, for the last time, to Rome, where he was a witness to his martyrdom. This was but the forerunner of his own death ; for being soon after seized on account of his faith, he was beheaded by order of Nero. Erastus, the Chamberlain of Corinth. Erastus was converted by St. Paul, and determined to forsake all and follow him. For this reason he resigned his office, and accompanied St. Paul in his voyages and travels, till the latter left him in Macedonia, where he was first made bishop of that province by the Christians ; and afterward suffered martyrdom, being tortured to death by the heathen at Philippi. Joseph. Joseph, commonly called Barsabas, was one of Christ's disciples. At the time when an apostle was to be chosen to fill the place of Judas Iscariot, lots were cast to decide whether it should be Joseph or Matthias ; and the lot fell on Matthias. After this Joseph preached the gospel in various parts of Judea, suffering many hardships, and was at last slain there, together with many of his converts. Ananias, Bishop of Damascus. This man is mentioned in the Acts as the one who cured St. Paul of the blindness caused by the miraculous brightness which shone down upon him at his conversion. Ananias was one of the seventy. He was martyred in the city of Damascus. After his death, a Chris- tian church was built over the place of his burial ; this has since been changed into a Turkish mosque. CHAPTER IV. ASSAULT OF JERUSALEM, A. d. 70. The punishment of the Jews and the destruction of Jerusalem, which had been prophesied by Moses and the prophets hundreds of years before, took place between the reigns of the Roman em- perors Nero and Domitian. Being taxed very heavily by the Roman governor sent to rule over them, the Jews rose in rebellion against him. The governor of Syria marched with his army against Jerusalem, but did not try to take it at once, as he had not soldiers enough. In the mean- time Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem, the successor of St. James, escaped with all the Christians who lived in the city, to Pella, a town among the hills, and thus they were providentially spared from suffering the dreadful fate of the Jews who remained in Jerusalem. Sufferings during the Siege. In the terrible siege which was soon begun the Romans surrounded the walls of the city, cut off all supplies of food from the starving in- habitants, and kept up a continual fire of heavy stones and arrows from the great bow-like machines which were then used in attacking walled towns. Pestilence raged in almost every house ; there was scarcely any food or drink to be had ; and the wretched Jews, instead of hold- ing together and attacking their common enemy, fought among themselves. Still the stricken city held out, and a Roman general named Vespasian was sent to take command of the Roman army, but the emperor Nero dying at this time by his own hand, to escape 45 46 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. the swords of his enraged subjects, Vespasian was made emperor and went back to Rome. Titus, the son of Vespasian, was left in charge of the army outside the walls of Jerusalem. It was the time of the passover. Titus at first tried to make peace with the Jews, but they would not listen to him, and the siege was begun again. The famine grew worse, and lawless mobs ranged the streets, breaking into every house in which they thought food could be had. It is related that one of these bands, being attracted by the smell of roasting flesh, broke into a grand dwelling belonging to a lady of high rank. With fierce threats they demanded food, but turned away in horror when she pointed to the fire — upon which lay cooking, part of the body of her own little child. Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple. At last the Romans broke through the wall, and entered the city. The Jews fled from the soldiers in the streets, and took refuge in the temple, where they determined to make a final stand ; probably hoping to the last that the Messiah would appear and save them. But alas ! they had rejected Christ long before, when He would have led them, victorious, toward a heavenly kingdom; and this was the time of judgment. The Romans fought their way up the marble steps of the splendid building, which were slippery with blood, and covered with the bodies of the slain. Titus hoped to take the temple without destroying it — for the beautiful structure was one of the wonders of the world ; but a soldier threw a torch through one of the golden latticed windows, and soon the rich curtains and hangings were ablaze. Titus had only time to glance in upon the rich marble and golden interior of the temple, and to save a few of such treasures as could be quickly carried away, when the flames drove him out, and soon afterward the magnificent building fell in ruins. Thus the tem- ple built by Herod, to construct which eighteen thousand men had labored nine years, was utterly destroyed. FALL OF JFRUSALEM. 47 Cruelty of the Romans. The Romans took terrible vengeance upon the Jews for their stubborn resistance. Great numbers were crucified, and the rest were either taken to the circular theatres in different cities of the empire, to fight with wild beasts, or were sold as slaves. So numer- ous were those carried into slavery that at last, cheap as they were, no one could be found to buy them. Yet, although scattered over the whole world, and without a country or a leader, the nation still survived — and to this day survives, to fulfil the prophecy made of it. Treasures of the Temple carried to Rome. The city of Jerusalem was utterly destroyed. Such treasures as had been saved from the burning temple — the golden table for shew- bread, the seven-branched candlestick, and the silver trumpets — were taken to Rome. There they were carried in the splendid procession, or triumph, with which Vespasian and Titus celebrated the victory they had gained. Carvings of these temple treasures were chiselled upon the stone front of a triumphal arch built in honor of Titus. This arch is still standing at Rome, and the carved representations of the sacred vessels are yet plainly to be seen upon it. After Vespasian's death, Titus, his son, was made emperor of Rome. When Titus died, his brother, Domitian, became emperor, who soon after taking the throne began one of those dreadful persecutions of the Christians which have made the names of some of the Roman emperors fearful to all time. THE SECOND PERSECUTION : UNDER DOMITIAN, a. d. 85. Domitian was a cruel and savage tyrant who not only persecuted the Christians, but also put to death some of the chief citizens of Rome. To get money to pay for the games and entertainments he 48 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. gave to amuse the people, the rich were plundered of a large part of their wealth. Many were the accusations brought against the followers of Christ. They were charged with holding disorderly, nightly meetings ; with being of a rebellious, turbulent spirit; of murdering their children, and even of being cannibals. If famine, or pestilence, or earthquakes afflicted any of the Roman provinces, these calamities were said to have been sent by the gods to punish the Christians. The perse- cutions naturally enough increased the number of informers ; and many false witnesses, for the sake of gain, swore away the lives of the innocent. When Christians were brought before the magistrates, a test oath was administered, and if they refused it, death was pronounced against them. If they confessed themselves Christians, the sentence was the same. The various kinds of punishments and cruelties in- flicted were imprisonment, racking, burning, scourging, stoning, hang- ing, and worrying by wild beasts. Many were forced to fall headlong from high places, and others were thrown upon the horns of wild bulls. After having perished under these cruelties, the poor privilege of burying the dead bodies was refused their friends. The following are some of the martyrs who suffered death during this persecution. DlONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE, AND OTHERS. Dionysius was an Athenian by birth, who was educated in all the useful and ornamental literature of Greece. He travelled to Egypt to study astronomy, and made veiy particular observations on an eclipse of the sun which took place at this time. On his return to Athens, he was highly honored by the people, and at length pro- moted to the dignity of senator of that celebrated city. Becoming a convert to the gospel, he was changed from the proud heathen senator to the humble follower of Christ. Even while in the dark- ness of idolatry, he had been just to all men; and now, after his con- CHRISTIANS ARE SLAIN BY THE PAGANS. 50 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. version, the sanctity of his conversation and purity of his manners recommended him so strongly to the Christians in general that he was appointed bishop of Athens. He filled this high office until the second year of this persecution, when he was seized and soon afterward received the crown of martyrdom by being beheaded with the sword. Timothy, Bishop of Ephesus. Timothy, the disciple of St. Paul, and bishop of Ephesus, was born at Lystra, in Asia Minor. His father was a Gentile, and his mother a Jewess ; but both became Christians, and he was taught the precepts of the gospel from his youth up. Upon St. Paul's arrival in Asia he ordained Timothy, and then made him the companion of his labors. He mentions him with par- ticular affection, and declares that he could find no one so truly united to him, both in heart and mind. Timothy attended St. Paul to Macedonia, where, with that apostle and Silas, he labored in spreading the gospel. When St. Paul went to Greece, Timothy was left behind to encour- age and sustain those already converted, and to bring others to the true faith. St. Paul at length sent for him to come to Athens, and then to Thessalonica, to uphold the faith of the suffering Chris- tians during the terrors of the persecution which prevailed. Timothy performed his mission, and returned to Athens, and there assisted St. Paul and Silas in composing the two epistles to the Thessalonians ; he then accompanied St. Paul to Corinth, Jeru- salem, and Ephesus. After carrying on the work of the ministry with great zeal and ability, and attending St. Paul on various jour- neys, Timothy was made bishop of Ephesus, though he was then only thirty years of age. St. Paul, in two admirable epistles, gave him proper instructions for his conduct. While St. Paul was in prison at Rome he desired Timothy to come to him ; afterward he returned to Ephesus, where he governed THE THIRD PERSECUTION. 5 1 the church till the year 97. At this time the heathen were about to celebrate a feast, the principal ceremonies of which were that the people should carry wands in their hands, go masked, and bear about the. streets the images of their gods. When Timothy met the procession, he reproved them for their idolatry, which so angered them that they fell upon him with their sticks, and beat him in so dreadful a manner that he died of the bruises two days after. Simeon, Bishop of Jerusalem, and Other Martyrs. Among those who suffered at this time were Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem, who was crucified, and Flavia, the daughter of a Roman senator, who was banished to Pontus. Nicomedes, a Christian of some distinction at Rome during the reign of Domitian, made great efforts to serve the afflicted ; he com- forted the poor, visited those confined, exhorted the wavering, and confirmed the faithful. For this he was seized as a Christian, and being sentenced, was scourged to death. Protasius and Gervasius were martyred at Milan ; but the manner of their deaths is not recorded. THE THIRD PERSECUTION : UNDER TRAJAN, a. d. 108. Nerva, who succeeded Domitian, only reigned thirteen months. Trajan then became emperor, and began the third persecution against the Christians. While it was raging we are told that Plinius Secundus, a heathen philosopher, wrote to the emperor in favor of the Christians, saying that he found no harm in them, and " that the whole sum of their error consists in this, that they are wont, at certain times appointed, ^o meet before day, and to sing certain hymns to one Christ their God ; to promise to abstain from all theft, murder, and crime ; to keep their faith and to defraud no man. This being done, they 52 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. gather together to take bread and wine, and then quietly depart, without committing any evil act." To this letter Trajan returned this uncertain reply : " That Chris- tians need not be sought after, but when brought before the magis- trates they should be punished." Provoked by this answer, Tertul- lian exclaimed, " O unjust sentence ! he would not have them hunted down, because they are innocent men, and yet will punish them the same as the guilty." The emperor's meaningless reply, how- ever, caused the persecution in some measure to abate, as his officers were uncertain, if they carried it on with too much severity, how he might choose to explain his own order. Cruel Tortures of Phocas and Others. Phocas, bishop of Pontus, refusing to sacrifice to Neptune, was first cast into a burning limekiln, and being drawn from thence, was thrown into a scalding bath, where he expired. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, was also put to death at the same time. There was a tradition that this holy man, had, when a child, been the one who was taken into Christ's arms and shown to the disciples as an example of innocence and humility. He received the gospel afterward from St. John the Evangelist, and was exceed- ingly earnest in his mission. He boldly defended the faith of Christ before the emperor, for which he was cast into prison, and tormented in the following dreadful manner. After being cruelly scourged, splinters dipped in oil were put to his sides, and set alight. His flesh was then mangled with pincers, and at last his body was torn in pieces by wild beasts. Ignatius seems to have had a knowledge of what his terrible fate was to be; for, writing to Polycarpus at Smyrna, he says, "Would to God I were at once come to the beasts which are prepared for me ; which also I wish were ready to come upon me with gaping mouths ; them will I provoke that they without delay may devour me." THE THIRD PERSECUTION. 53 A Widow and Her Sons are Slain. Symphorosa, a widow, and her seven sons, were commanded by Trajan to sacrifice to the heathen gods. Refusing to obey, the em- peror, greatly enraged, ordered the woman to be carried to the tem- ple of Hercules, where she was scourged, and hung up for some time by the hair of her head. A large stone was then fastened to her neck, and she was thrown into the river and drowned. Her sons were fastened to seven posts, and being drawn up by ropes and pulleys, their limbs were dislocated. These terrible tor- tures not affecting their resolution, they were then slain in the fol- lowing manner : Crescentius, the eldest, was stabbed in the throat ; Julian, the second, in the breast ; Xemesius, the third, in the heart ; Primitius, the fourth, in the middle ; Justice, the fifth, in the back ; Stacteus, the sixth, in the side; and Eugenius, the youngest, was sawn asunder. Alexander, Bishop of Rome, and Others. About this time Alexander, bishop of Rome, after filling that office for ten years, was martyred, as were his two deacons, with many thousands of other Christians. Eustachius, a brave and successful Roman commander, was ordered by the emperor to join in an idolatrous sacrifice, to celebrate some of his own victories ; but his faith was so great, that he nobly refused to obey. Enraged at his disobedience, the ungrateful emperor, forgetting the services of his brave and skilful officer, sentenced him, with his whole family, to be slain. It is told that, during the martyrdom of two brothers, named Faustines and Jovita, their torments were so many, and their patience so great, that Calocerius, a heathen man, was struck with admiration, and exclaimed, in a kind of ecstasy, " Great is the God of the Chris- tians !" — for which he was at once put to death by the crowd which had gathered together to witness the barbarous spectacle. 54 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. The Christians Appeal to Hadrian. Hadrian, who became emperor when Trajan died, was appealed to by Quadratus, bishop of Athens, to spare the Christians. He listened to the bishop's explanation of their faith, and was so struck by it that he stopped the persecution. He indeed went so far as to command that no Christian should be punished on the score of religion or opinion only; but their enemies then began to hire false witnesses, to accuse them of crimes against the state or civil authority. Anthia, a Christian woman, who gave her son Eleutherius to Anicetus, bishop of Rome, to be brought up in the Christian faith, was afterward beheaded with her son. Justus and Pastor, two brothers, also met a like fate in a city of Spain. Hadrian died in the year 138, having ordered the cessation of the persecutions against the Christians some years before his death. Antoninus Pius. Antoninus Pius succeeded Hadrian. He was so good a monarch that his people gave him the title of " The Father of Virtues." Im- mediately upon his accession to the throne, he published an edict ending with these words : " If any hereafter shall vex or trouble the Christians, having no other cause but that they are such, let the Christians be released, and their accusers punished." This stopped the persecution, and the Christians enjoyed a rest from their sufferings during this emperor's reign, though their enemies took every occasion to do them what injuries they could. The piety and goodness of Antoninus were so great, that he used to say that he would rather save one innocent man than destroy a thousand of his adversaries. CHAPTER V. THE FOURTH PERSECUTION: UNDER MARCUS AURELIUS, A. D. 163. Antoninus Pius was succeeded by Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Verus, who, although a good and virtuous ruler, seems to have been ignorant of, or else indifferent to, the sufferings of the Christians, particularly in Asia and in Gaul. In both of these countries num- bers of them were martyred in this fourth persecution. Such were the cruelties then practised that it is said many of the spectators shuddered with horror at the sight, and were astonished at the courage of the sufferers. Some of the martyrs were obliged to pass, with their already wounded feet, over thorns, nails, or sharp shells. Others were scourged till their sinews and veins lay bare. After suffering the most excruciating tortures, they were finally put to death by fire. Story of Polycarpus. Polycarpus, a follower and convert of St. John the Evangelist, had served in the ministry of Christ for sixty years. The circum- stances which led up to the cruel martyrdom of this aged disciple, then in his eighty-sixth year, are thus told by an ancient historian : A young Christian man, named Germanicus, being sentenced to be torn to pieces by wild beasts on account of his faith, behaved with such astonishing courage, that several of the spectators be- came converted on the spot to a faith which inspired such fortitude. This enraged others so much, that they cried out, " Death to the Christians !" In the disturbance which followed a certain Phrygian, 55 56 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. named Quintus, lately arrived from his own country, was so much affected by the ravenous howls of the wild beasts, that he rushed to the judgment-seat and 'denounced the judges. For this he was at once put to death. Some enemies to the Christians then began suddenly to cry out, " Destroy all the wicked men ! let Polycarpus be sought for!" and soon a great uproar and tumult began to be raised. Polycarpus, hearing that he was in great danger, escaped, but his hiding-place was discovered by a child. From this circumstance, and having dreamed that his bed suddenly became on fire, and was consumed in a moment, he concluded that it was God's will he should suffer martyrdom. He therefore did not attempt to make a second escape when he had an opportunity of doing so, and those who took him were amazed at his serene and cheerful countenance. After feasting them, he desired an hour for prayer, which being allowed, he prayed with such fervency that his guards repented that they had come for him. He was, however, at once carried before the proconsul, condemned to be burned alive, and led to the market- place. The holy man still earnestly prayed to heaven, after being bound to the stake. Fire was set to the wood, and the flames grew hot; the executioners gave way on both sides, as the heat was intolera- ble. But all this time the martyr sang praises to God in the midst of the flames, remaining for a long time unconsumed therein, and the burning of the wood spread a fragrance around. Astonished at this miracle, but determined to put an end to his life, the guards struck spears into his body, when the quantity of blood that issued from the wounds of their victim put out the flames. After many attempts, however, they put him to death, and burned the dead body which they had not been able to consume while alive. This extraor- dinary event had such an effect upon the people, that they began to worship Polycarpus as a god. TIIF. FOURTH PERSECUTION. 57 Story of a Roman Mother and Her Sons. Fclicitatas, a Roman lady of high rank and great ability, was a devout Christian. She had seven sons, whom she had educated with the most pious care. The empire being about this time griev- ously troubled with earthquakes, famine, and floods, the Christians were accused of causing these disasters, and Felicitatas was included in the accusation. The lady and her family being seized, the em- peror gave orders to Publius, the Roman governor, to proceed against her. At the examination and trial Publius began with the mother, thinking that if he could persuade her to change her religion, the example would have great influence with her sons. Finding her firm, he changed his entreaties to threats, telling her that he would destroy her and her family ; but she despised his threats as she had done his promises. Publius then caused her sons to be brought before him, whom he examined separately. They all, however, re- mained steadfast in their faith, and alike in their opinions. The whole family were then condemned to die. Januarius, the eldest, was scourged and pressed to death with weights ; Felix and Philip, the two next, had their brains dashed out with clubs ; Sylvanus, the fourth, was destroyed by being thrown from a precipice; and the three younger sons, Alexander, Vitalis, and Martialis, were all be- headed. The mother was at last slain with the same sword that had ended the lives of her three sons. Justin is Martyred. Justin, the celebrated philosopher, fell a victim to this persecution. He was born at Neapolis, in the year 103. He had the best educa- tion those times would afford, and travelled into Egypt, the country to which well-born young men of that time usually went for im- provement and study. When Justin was thirty years of age, he became a convert to 5 8 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. Christianity. He wrote an epistle to the Gentiles, to convert them to the faith he had newly acquired, and lived so pure and innocent a life that he well deserved the title of a Christian philosopher. He likewise employed his talents in convincing the Jews of the truth of the Christian religion, and spent much time in travelling, till he took up his residence in Rome. He there instructed the young and taught many who afterward became great men ; he also wrote a treatise against heresies of all kinds. When the heathen began to treat the Christians with great cruelty Justin wrote his first apology in their favor, and addressed it to the emperor Antoninus, and to the senate and people of Rome in gen- eral. This apology, which caused the emperor* to publish an edict in favor of the Christians, displays great learning and genius. After this Justin entered into a public debate with Crescens, a cynic philosopher of vicious life but great talents. Justin defeated Crescens in argument, and in revenge the heathen philosopher de- termined to have the Christian brought to trial. This he was soon able to do, owing to the prominent part taken by Justin in defending Christians charged with refusing to sacrifice to the gods. Accused by Crescens, Justin and six of his companions were brought to trial. Being commanded to deny their faith, and sac- rifice to the idols, they refused to do either. They were there- fore condemned to be first scourged and then beheaded. About this time many other persons were slain for refusing to sacrifice to the image of Jupiter. In particular, Concordus, a deacon of the city of Spoleto, being dragged before the image, was ordered to worship it. He not only refused, but spit in its face ; for which he was cruelly tormented, and afterward had his head cut off with a sword. The Prayer of Christian Soldiers brings Rain. At this time some of the northern nations having taken up arms THE FOURTH PERSECUTION. $'J against Rome, the emperor marched to encounter them, at the head of a large army. He was, hoy/ever, drawn into an ambush, and had reason to fear the loss of his whole force. Surrounded by enemies, and perishing with thirst, the troops were at their last extremity. As was then customary in times of great peril, the soldiers sacrificed to their gods ; Jupiter, Mars, and all the heathen deities were called upon in vain. At last the men belonging to the Militine (or Thundering legion, as it was afterward called), who were all Christians, were asked to call upon their God for help. They at once moved away from the rest, knelt down upon the ground, and prayed earnestly. Awe- struck and astonished, the rest of the army looked on ; while black clouds gathered, and a miraculous thunder-storm immediately began. A great quantity of rain fell, which being caught by the men, and fill- ing the ditches, afforded relief to the perishing army. The emperor, in his letter to the Roman senate wherein the expedition is described, after mentioning the dangers he had encountered, speaks of the Chris- tians in the following words : " When I saw myself not able to attack our enemies, I craved aid of our gods ; but finding no relief at their hands, and being surrounded by the enemy, I caused those men whom we call Chris- tians to be sent for. Upon being mustered, I found a considerable number of them. These, whom we once thought wicked men, we now believe to worship the true God in their hearts ; for falling prostrate on the ground, they prayed not only for me, but for the army with me, beseeching God to help us in our extreme want of food and fresh water (for we had been five days with- out water, and in our enemies' land, even in the midst of Ger- many). Falling on their faces, they prayed to a God unknown to me. Immediately there fell from heaven a most pleasant and cool shower; but amongst our enemies a great storm of hail, mixed with thunder and lightning, raged. Therefore we gave these men 60 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. leave to profess Christianity, lest by their prayers we be punished likewise." Cruel Treatment of the Christians of Gaul. We next find persecution raging in the provinces of the Roman empire. In Gaul, particularly at Lyons, the tortures to which many of the Christians were condemned almost exceed the power of description. All manner of punishments were adopted : banishment, plundering, hanging, and burning. Even the servants and slaves of Christians were racked and tortured, to make them accuse their masters and employers. The following were among the prominent persons put to death at this time : Vetius Agathus, a young man, having pleaded the Christian cause, was asked if he were a Christian ; answering " Yes !" he was con- demned to death. Many, animated by this young man's courage, boldly owned their faith, and suffered likewise. Blandinia, a woman of a weak constitution, being seized and tor- tured on account of her religion, received so much strength from heaven that her torturers became tired, and were surprised at her being able to bear her torments for so great a length of time, and with such resolution. Sanctus, a deacon of Vienne, was put to the torture, which he bore with great fortitude, and only cried, " I am a Christian." Red-hot plates of brass were placed upon those parts of his body which were tenderest, contracting the sinews ; but he remained firm and was sent back to prison. Being brought out a few days afterward, his tor- mentors were astonished to find his wounds healed, and his person unscarred. They, however, again proceeded to torture him ; but not being able at that time to take his life, they sent him to prison, where he remained for some time, and was at last beheaded. Biblides, a weak woman, who had been an apostate but returned to the faith, was martyred, and bore her sufferings with great patience. THE FOURTH PERSECUTION. 6 1 Attalus, of Pergamus, was another sufferer; and Photinus, the venerable bishop of Lyons, who was ninety years of age, was so abused by the enraged mob that he expired two days after in the prison. Tortures Inflicted upon Christians at Lyons. At Lyons, some of the martyrs were compelled to sit in red- hot iron chairs till their flesh broiled. This barbarous punishment was inflicted upon Sanctus, already mentioned, and others. Others were sewed up in nets, and thrown on the horns of wild bulls. The bodies of those who died in prison, previous to the ap- pointed time of execution, were thrown to dogs ; indeed, so far did the malice of the heathen extend, that they set guards over the bodies while the beasts were devouring them, lest the friends of the dead should get them by stealth. Sufferings of Epipodius and Alexander. Besides the martyrs of Lyons, many others suffered in different parts of the empire. Among these were Epipodius and Alexander, celebrated for their great friendship and their Christian union. The former was born at Lyons, the latter in Greece ; they were of mutual assistance to each other in the practice of Christian virtues and god- liness. At the time the persecution first began to rage at Lyons, they were in the prime of life, and to avoid its severities they tried to save their lives by hiding in a neighboring village. Here they were for some time concealed by a Christian widow. But the malice of their persecutors pursued them to their place of concealment, and they were committed to prison without examination. After three days they were brought before the governor, and examined in the presence of a crowd of heathen, before whom they confessed the divinity of Christ. Upon this the governor, being enraged at what 62 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. he termed their insolence, said, " What signify all the former execu- tions, if some yet remain who dare acknowledge Christ, and refuse to sacrifice to the ancient gods ?" They were then separated, so they should not console each other, and the governor began to tempt Epipodius, the younger of the two. He pretended to pity his condition, and advised him not to ruin himself by obstinacy. " Our gods," continued he, " are wor- shipped by the greater part of the people in the world, and by their rulers ; we adore them with feasting and mirth, while you praise a crucified man. We honor them by launching into pleasures ; you, by your faith, are debarred from all that indulges the senses. Our religion enjoins feasting, yours fasting; ours the joys of life, yours the barren virtue of chastity. Therefore, I advise you to renounce a religion of such severity, and to enjoy those gratifications which the world affords, and which your youthful years demand." Epipodius said in reply, " Your pretended tenderness is actual cruelty; and the agreeable life you describe is followed by everlast- ing death. Christ suffered for us, that our pleasures should be immortal, and hath prepared for his followers an eternity of bliss. The frame of man is composed of two parts, body and soul ; the first is weak and perishable, and should be servant to the latter. Your idolatrous feasts may gratify the mortal, but they injure the immortal part. That surely cannot be enjoyment, which destroys the most valuable part of man. Your pleasures lead to eternal death ; our pains, to eternal happiness." For these brave words Epipodius was severely beaten, and then put to the rack. Upon this he was cruelly stretched ; after having borne his torments with wonderful patience, he was taken from the rack and beheaded. Alexander, his companion, was brought before the judge, two days after, and on his resolute refusal to renounce Christianity, he was likewise placed on the rack and beaten by three executioners, THE FOURTH PERSECUTION. 63 who relieved each other alternately until he expired, yet he bore his sufferings with as much coinage as his friend had done. Account of Valerian and Marcellus. Valerian and Marcellus, two young men who were nearly related to each other, were imprisoned at Lyons for being Christians. By some means they made their escape, and travelled different roads. Marcellus made several converts in the territories of Besangon and Chalons ; but, being taken, he was carried before Priscus, the gov- ernor of those parts. This magistrate, knowing- Marcellus to be a Christian, ordered him to be fastened to some branches of a tree, which were drawn down for that purpose. When he was tied to different branches, they were let go, with the intention of tearing him to pieces by the sudden jerks. But this invention failing, he was taken down and carried to Chalons, to be present at some idolatrous sacrifices. Re- fusing to assist at these, he was put to the torture, and afterward fixed up to his waist in the ground, in which terrible position he remained for three days, when death released him from misery. Valerian was also seized, and, by the older of Priscus, was first brought to the rack, and then beheaded, in the same year as his relation Marcellus. In the year 180 the Emperor Marcus Aurelius died, and was suc- ceeded by his son Commodus. Apollonius Accused by His Slave. In the reign of the emperor Commodus, Apollonius, a Roman senator, became a martyr. This eminent man was versed in all the polite literature of those times, as well as in the pure precepts of the religion of Christ. He was accused by his own slave Severus, which act was made possible by an unjust and forgotten, but unre- pealed, law of the emperor Trajan. 64 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. This law condemned the accused to die, unless he changed his religion ; but, at the same time, ordered the execution of the accuser for slander. Apollonius, upon this ridiculous statute, was brought to trial ; for though his slave, Severus, knew he must die for the accusation, yet such was his hatred and thirst for revenge, that he was willing to lose his own life if he could but make sure of the death of his master. As Apollonius refused to change his opinions, he was, by order of the Roman senators, to whom he had appealed, condemned to be beheaded. This sentence was carried out; and his accuser, hav- ing first had his legs broken, was then also put to death. Three Hundred Christians are Burned. One of the most dreadful events recorded in the history of Chris- tian martyrdom, both on account of the number of the victims sac- rificed and the terrible manner of their deaths, took place at Utica, the greatest city, except Carthage, of ancient Africa. By the order of the proconsul, three hundred Christians were ranged around a burning limekiln. An altar was also set up near at hand, and the people were commanded either to sacrifice to the heathen gods, or to suffer the terrible penalty of being cast into the burning kiln. Wonderful to relate, the three hundred martyrs not only refused to sacrifice, but with one accord leaped forward to meet the fiery death which their enemies had prepared for them. Other Martyrs Perish. Fructuosus, bishop of Tarragon, on the east coast of Spain, and his two deacons, Augurius and Eulogius, for avowing themselves Christians, were burned alive. Malchus, Alexander, and Priscus, three Christians of Palestine, with a woman of the same place, vol- untarily confessed that they were Christians ; for which they were condemned to be devoured by tigers. CHAPTER VI. THE FIFTH GENERAL PERSECUTION UNDER THE ROMAN EMPERORS, a. d. 200. The emperor Commodus was succeeded by Pertinax, and he by Julianus, each of whom reigned but a short time. On the death of the last, Severus became emperor. After he had obtained the throne he fell ill, and would have died but for the skill of a Christian physi- cian ; so he became a great favorer of Christians in general, and even permitted his son, Caracalla, to be nursed by a Christian woman. It therefore happened that the Christians had for several years a rest from persecution, and could worship God without fear of being punished for it. But after a time the hatred of the ignorant mob again prevailed, and the old laws were remembered and put in force against them. Fire, sword, wild beasts, and imprisonments, were once more resorted to ; and even the dead bodies of Christians were torn from their graves, and subjected to every insult. Yet so greatly did the faithful multiply, in spite of the attacks of their enemies, that Tertullian, who lived in this age, tells us that if the Christians had all gone away from the Roman territories, the empire would have been greatly weakened. Leonidas, the father of the celebrated Origen, whose story is told further on, was beheaded for being a Christian. Before his execution, the son, in order to encourage his father, wrote to him in these re- markable words : " Do not, dear father, let your care for us change your resolution." Many of Origen's friends likewise suffered mar- tyrdom, among them two brothers, named Plutarchus and Serenus; 5 65 66 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. two others, named Heron and Heraclides, were beheaded ; a woman named Rhais had boiling pitch poured upon her head, and was then burned alive, as was also Marcella her mother. Conversion of a Roman Officer. Potamiena, the sister of Rhais, was executed in the same manner as the others. But Basilides, an officer belonging to the army, who had been ordered to attend her execution, became a convert on witnessing her fortitude. When he was required to take a certain oath, he refused, saying that he could no longer swear by the Roman idols, as he was a Christian. The people could not, at first, believe what they heard; but he had no sooner proved that his words were true, than he was dragged before the judge, committed to prison, and on the next day beheaded. Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons, was born in Greece, and received a Christian education. It is generally supposed that the accounts of the persecutions at Lyons were written by him. He succeeded the martyr Photinus as bishop of Lyons, and ruled his diocese with great ability until he, too, was slain. Irenaeus was a zealous opposer of heresies in general, and wrote a celebrated tract against heresy. The Story of Perpetua. The persecutions about this time extended to northern Africa, then a Roman province, and many persons were martyred. One of these was Perpetua, a married lady of about twenty-six years of age, with a young child at her breast. She was seized for being a Christian, and her father, who tenderly loved her, went to the prison during her confinement, and attempted to persuade her to renounce Christianity. Perpetua, however, resisted every entreaty. This resolution so much grieved her father, that he did not visit her again for some days, and in the meantime, she and some others who were shut up in the prison were baptized. THE STORY OF PERPETUA. 67 On being taken before the proconsul Minutius, Perpetua was com- manded to sacrifice to the idols. Refusing to do this, she was put in a dark dungeon, and deprived of her child ; but two of the keepers, Tertius and Pomponius, who had the care of persecuted Christians, allowed her some hours daily to breathe the fresh air, during which time she was allowed to nurse her baby. Seeing, however, that she would not long be permitted this privilege, she begged her mother to care for it. Her father at length paid her a second visit, and again entreated her to renounce Christianity. But, firm in her faith, his daughter refused to be persuaded, and said to him, " God's will must be done." He then, with an almost breaking heart, left her. After a few more days of imprisonment, the Christians were sum- moned to appear before the judge. One by one they were exhorted to forsake their religion and deny their Lord, but they one and all re- mained firm. When it came to Perpetua's turn, suddenly her father appeared, carrying her child in his arms ; he came near to the young mother, and pointing to the helpless little one, dependent on her for subsistence, entreated her to have compassion on her babe. Even the judge seemed to be moved, and added his persuasions to those of her father. " Spare the gray hairs of your father," he said ; " spare your child. Offer sacrifice for the welfare of the emperor." But Per- petua answered, " I will not sacrifice." " Art thou a Christian ?" de- manded Hilarianus, the magistrate. " I am a Christian," was her answer. Still her father continued his entreaties, until the judge, tired of his frequent interruptions, ordered him to be removed by the guards. He then passed sentence on the Christians ; it was that they should be killed by wild beasts as a spectacle for the people on the next holiday. While in prison, awaiting their doom, the jailers freely admitted friends of the prisoners to see them, and among these came the 68 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. unhappy father of Perpetua, who sat silently in his dumb grief. All this was bitterly hard for Perpetua to bear; but God did not leave his servants comfortless. During those days of awful expec- tation, they were cheered with many bright rays of consolation. Bright visions of heavenly glory came to many of them, and to Perpetua among the rest. At length the too swift, too tedious days wore away, and the dreaded time arrived. An attempt was made to dress the Christians in the profane robes of the priests and priestesses of heathen idols. Against this they protested, saying that it was to avoid such superstitions that they were willing to lay down their lives. Their enemies could not but see the justice of this appeal, and they were therefore spared this last insult. They came forward to the place of execution clad in the sim- plest robes, Perpetua singing a hymn of triumph. The men were to be torn to pieces by leopards and bears. Perpetua, and a young woman named Felicitas were hung up in nets, at first naked ; but even the brutal assembly of spectators, who delighted in scenes of horror and blood, demanded that they should be allowed their garments. When they were again put into the arena, a bull, goaded into mad fury, was let loose upon them. Felicitas fell mortally wounded. Perpetua was tossed, her loose robe rent, and her hair unbound. Drawing her robe over her once more, she hastened to the side of the dying Felicitas, and gently raised her from the ground. The savage bull made no further attack upon them, and they were dragged out of the arena. But soon the fierce multitude were heard clamoring that they should be brought back to receive their death-blow in public. Having kissed each other, they were led forth into the arena again, to be despatched by the sword. Per- petua fell into the hands of a young gladiator, unused to such scenes, who tremblingly wounded her ineffectually more than once. • •? li if ifi iiiir i i iin i. in mn«u < J m I h J tf I o 1 o 1 £ ! ^ M b EH - H 70 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. When she saw his emotion, she guided his sword with her own hand to a vital part, and so expired. Martyrs in the Arena. The names of three young men who were also martyred upon this occasion were Satur, Saturnius, and Secundulus. When their turn came, they were led to the amphitheatre. There, all had the courage to call for God's judgment upon their persecutors ; after which they were made to run the gauntlet between the hunters, who had the care of the wild beasts. These men were drawn up in two ranks, and the prisoners ran between ; as they passed they were lashed and bruised, and afterward given to the tigers. False Charges against the Christians. Some of the crimes and false accusations brought against the Christians at this time were, sedition and rebellion against the em- peror, sacrilege, murdering of infants, and eating raw flesh. It was also objected against them that they worshipped the head of an ass ; this story being invented by the Jews. They were charged also with worshipping the sun, either because when the sun rose they met together, singing their morning hymns to the Lord, or because they prayed toward the east. Speratus, and twelve others, were beheaded ; as was Androclus, in Gaul. Asclepiades, bishop of Antioch, suffered many tortures, but his life was spared. Cecilia, a young Christian lady of good family in Rome, who was married to a young man named Valerian, succeeded in persuading her husband to become a Christian ; and his conversion was followed by that of Tiburtius his brother. This being noised about, drew upon them all the vengeance of the laws. The two brothers were beheaded; and the officer who led them to execution, becoming their convert, suffered a similar death. The woman, being the leader, was doomed to die in the following THE SIXTH PERSECUTION. yl dreadful manner. She was put into a scalding bath, and having re- mained there a while, her head was struck off with a sword. This took place in the year 222. Calistus, bishop of Rome, was martyred, but the manner of his death is not recorded; and Urban, bishop of Rome, met the same fate. Agapetus, a boy of Praeneste, in Italy, who was only fifteen years of age, refusing to sacrifice to the idols, was severely scourged, and afterward beheaded. The officer, named Antiochus, who superin- tended this execution, while it was being done fell suddenly from his judicial seat, crying out in great pain, and so died there. THE SIXTH GENERAL PERSECUTION UNDER THE ROMAN EMPERORS, a. d. 235. The emperor Maximinus raised a persecution against the Christians, and ordered them to be hunted down and slain. A Roman soldier, who refused to wear a laurel crown bestowed on him by the emperor, and confessed himself a Christian, was scourged, imprisoned, and put to death. Pontianus, bishop of Rome, for preaching against idolatry, was banished to Sardinia, and there murdered. Anteros, a Grecian, who succeeded Pontianus as bishop of Rome, gave so much offence to the government by collecting the history of the martyrs, that, after having held his office only forty days, he suffered martyrdom himself. Pammachius, a Roman senator, with his family, and other Chris- tians to the number of forty-two, were, on account of their religion, all beheaded in one day, and their heads set up on the city gates. Simplicius, another senator, suffered martyrdom in a similar way. Calepodius, a Christian minister, after being cruelly dragged about the streets, was thrown into the river Tiber with a millstone fastened J2 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. about his neck. Quiritus, a Roman nobleman, with his family and servants, was barbarously tortured and put to death. Martina, a noble and beautiful virgin, suffered martyrdom by being beheaded ; and Hippolitus, a Christian prelate, was tied to a wild horse, and dragged through fields, stony places, and bushes until he died. Christians Slain Without Trial. While this persecution continued, many Christians were slain with- out trial, and buried in heaps sometimes fifty or sixty being cast into a pit together. Maximinus was succeeded by Gordian, during whose reign, and that of his successor, Philip, the church was free from persecution for the space of more than six years. But in the year 249 a violent persecution broke out in Alexandria. It is, however, worthy of note that this was begun at the command of a pagan priest, without the emperor's knowledge. At this time, the fury of the people being great against the Christians, the mob broke open their houses, car- ried away the most valuable part of their property, and destroyed the rest. They murdered the owners in great numbers, the gen- eral cry being, " Burn them ! kill them ! Let not one escape !" The names of these martyrs have not been preserved, with the ex- ception of the three following. Death of Metrus and Others. Metrus, an aged and venerable Christian, who refused to worship idols, was beaten with clubs, pricked with sharp reeds, and at last stoned to death. Quinta, a Christian woman, being carried to the temple, and refusing to worship the idols there, was dragged by her feet over sharp flint stones, scourged with whips, and finally de- spatched in the same manner as Metrus. Apollonia, an old woman of nearly seventy years, confessed she was a Christian, and the mob threatened to burn her alive. A fire THE SEVENTH PERSECUTION. 73 was accordingly prepared for the purpose, and she was fastened to a stake ; but begging to be unloosed, she was set free, as the people thought she meant to recant, but to their astonishment she immediately threw herself back into the flames, and was con- sumed. THE SEVENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION UNDER THE ROMAN EMPERORS, a. d. 249. In the reign of Decius, a dreadful persecution was begun against the Christians. This was caused partly by the hatred Decius bore to the previous emperor, Philip, who was favorable to the Christians, and partly to his jealousy being aroused by the amazing increase of Christianity. The heathen temples were almost forsaken, and the Christian churches crowded with converts. Decius, angered at this, attempted to crush them. Unfortunately for the cause of the gospel, many errors had, about this time, crept into the church. The Chris- tians were at variance with each other, and a number of disputes had arisen among them. The heathen, too, were of course anxious to enforce the imperial decrees, and looked upon the murder of a Christian as a praiseworthy act. Martyrdom of Fabiax and Others. Fabian, bishop of Rome, was the first person of authority who felt the severity of this persecution. The former emperor, Philip, had committed his treasure to the care of Fabian, on account of his well-known integrity ; but Decius, not finding as much in the treas- ury as his avarice led him to expect, determined to wreak his ven- geance on the good bishop. His high position and great repu- tation did not save him ; Fabian was seized, at the emperor's com- mand, and suffered martyrdom by being beheaded. Abdon and Semen, two Persians, were held as strangers ; but 74 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. being found Christians, were put to death on account of their faith. Moyses, a priest, was beheaded for the same reason. Julian, a native of Cilicia, as we are informed by St. Chrysostom, was arrested for being a Christian. He was frequently tortured, but still remained firm ; and though often brought from prison for execu- tipn, was again sent back, to suffer greater cruelties. At length he was made to travel for twelve whole months, from town to town, in order to be exposed to the insults of the populace. When all endeavors to make him recant his religion were found ineffectual, he was brought before his judge, stripped, and whipped in a dread- ful manner. He was then put into a leather bag, together with a number of serpents and scorpions, and in that condition thrown into the sea. Broken on the Wheel. Peter, a young man of superior qualities of body and mind, was seized as a Christian, and carried before Optimus, proconsul of Asia. On being commanded to sacrifice to Venus, he said, " I marvel that you sacrifice to an infamous woman, whose crimes even your own historians tell of, and whose life was filled with such actions as your laws would punish. No ! I shall offer only to the true God the sac- rifice of prayers and praise." Optimus, on hearing this, ordered him to be bound upon a wheel which was rolled over stones so that his bones were broken. But his torments only inspired him with fresh courage ; he smiled on his executioners, and seemed, by the serenity of his countenance, not to upbraid, but to applaud them. At last the proconsul com- manded him to be beheaded ; which was immediately done. Nichomachus, another Christian, on being ordered to sacrifice to the pagan idols, answered, " I shall not pay that respect to devils which is due only to the Almighty." This speech so much enraged Optimus, that Nichomachus was put to the rack. He bore the tor- ments, for some time, with patience and great resolution ; but, at THE SEVENTH PERSECUTION. 75 length, when ready to expire with pain, he had the weakness to abjure his faith, and become an apostate. It is related, however, that no sooner had he done this than he fell into the greatest an- guish of body and mind, dropped down, and expired immediately. Two Christians are Stoned. Andrew and Paul, two companions of Nichomachus, on confess- ing themselves Christians, were condemned to die, and delivered to the mob. They suffered martyrdom by stoning, and expired call- ing on their Lord. Alexander and Epimacus, of Alexandria, were seized for being Christians ; and on confessing, were beaten with staves, torn with hooks, and at last burned. We are told by Eusebius that four female martyrs suffered on the same day and at the same place, but not in the same manner, as these were beheaded. The Story of Lucian and Marcian. Lucian and Marcian, two magicians, becoming converts to Chris- tianity, and repenting of their former evil lives, lived as hermits in a cave, and ate nothing but bread and water. After spending some time in this way, they reflected that their lives were being wasted, and made up their minds to leave their cave and try to convert others to Christianity. The persecution, however, raging at this time, they were seized and carried before Sabinus, the governor of Bithynia, in Asia Minor. On being asked by what authority they took it upon themselves to preach, Lucian answered : " The laws of charity and humanity oblige all men to try to convert their fellows, and to do everything in their power to rescue them from the snares of the devil." Marcian said their change of heart was by the same grace given to St. Paul, who from a zealous persecutor of the church, be- came a preacher of the gospel. When the proconsul found that y6 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. he could not prevail on them to renounce their faith, he condemned them to be burned alive, which sentence was soon after carried out. Trypho and Respicius, two eminent men, were seized as Christians, and imprisoned at Nice. They were soon after put to the rack, which they bore with admirable patience for three hours, uttering praises to the Almighty the whole time ; they were then exposed naked in the chill air, which benumbed all their limbs. When taken back to prison, they remained there for a considerable time ; after which the cruelties of their persecutors were further exercised upon them. Their feet were pierced with nails ; they were dragged through the streets by a mob of angry men who clamored for their lives ; then scourged, scorched with lighted torches, and at last beheaded. Sufferings of Agatha, a Lady of Sicily. Agatha, a Sicilian lady, was noted for her beauty and accomplish- ments ; her charms of person were indeed so great, that Quintain, governor of Sicily, became enamoured of her. The governor being notorious as an evil liver, the lady thought it prudent to leave the town, but was discovered in her retreat, and brought to Catana. Finding herself in the power of her enemy, she recommended herself to the protection of the Almighty, and prayed for death. As Agatha con- tinued firm in her refusal to listen to him, the cruel governor's desire changed to hate ; and, on her confessing that she was a Christian, he determined to gratify his revenge. Quintain, therefore, commanded that Agatha should be cruelly scourged. Having borne this torment with wonderful courage, she was then burned to death in a great fire. Martyrdom of Cyril. Cyril, bishop of Gortyna, in the island of Crete, was seized by the order of Lucius, the governor of that place. The governor advised him to obey the imperial command, perform the sacrifices, THE SEVENTH PERSECUTION. J J and save his venerable person from the fire ; for he was then eighty- four years of age. The good bishop replied that he could not agree to any such requirements, and that he who had so long taught others to save their souls could not throw away his own salvation. When the gov- ernor found all his persuasions were in vain, he pronounced sentence against the venerable Christian, in these words : " I order that Cyril, who has lost his reason, and is a declared enemy of our gods, shall be burned alive." The good man heard this sentence without fear, walked to the place of execution, and bore his sufferings with great courage. Other Persecutions in Crete. In the island of Crete the persecution raged with fury ; the gov- ernor being exceedingly active in carrying out the imperial decrees, the place streamed with the blood of many Christians. The princi- pal martyrs whose names have come down to us are as follows : Theodulus, Saturnius, and Europus ; these were citizens of Gor- tyna, who had been grounded in their faith by Cyril, bishop of that city. Eunicianus, Zeticus, Cleomenes, Agathopas, Bastides, and Euaristus, were brought from different parts of the island on accu- sations of professing Christianity. At the time of their trial they were commanded to sacrifice to Jupiter; refusing to do this, the judge threatened them with the severest tortures. They bravely answered, that to suffer for the sake of the Supreme Being would, to them, be the sublimest of pleasures. The judge then attempted to gain their respect for the heathen gods, by recounting their merits, and telling of some of their imaginaiy virtues. This gave the prisoners an opportunity of showing the absurdity of such stories, and of pointing out the folly of paying adoration to senseless statues. Provoked to hear his favorite idols ridiculed, the governor ordered them all to be put to the rack ; the pains of which they sustained 7 8 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. with surprising fortitude. They at length suffered martyrdom, being all beheaded at the same time. Babylas, Bishop of Antioch, and Others. Babylas, a Christian of excellent education, became bishop of Antioch in the year 237, on the death of Zebinus. He governed the church during those troublous times with admirable zeal and prudence. The first misfortune that happened to Antioch during his mission was the siege of the city by Sapor, king of Persia ; who, having overrun all Syria, took and plundered this place among others, and tortured the Christians in all the horrible ways known to Eastern nations. His triumph, however, was not to last long. Gordian, the emperor, at the head of a powerful army, appeared and retook An- tioch. The Persians were driven entirely out of Syria, pursued into their own country, and several cities in Persia fell into the hands of the Romans. After Gordian's death, in the reign of Decius, that emperor came to Antioch, where, having a desire to visit an assembly of Christians, Babylas opposed him, and refused to let him come in. The emperor hid his anger at the time; but soon sending for the bishop, he sharply reproved him for his insolence, and then ordered him, as a punishment, to sacrifice to the heathen gods. Refusing to do this, Babylas was committed to prison, loaded with chains, treated with great cruelty, and then beheaded. Three young men, who had been his pupils, were slain at the same time and with the same sword. On going to the place of execution, the bishop ex- claimed, " Behold me and the children that the Lord hath given me." The chains worn by the bishop in prison were buried with him. Execution of Alexander and Others. Alexander, bishop pf Jerusalem, about this time was cast into prison, where he died through the severity of his confinement; or, THE PERSIANS TAKE ANTIOCH AND CRUELLY TORTURE THE CHRISTIANS. SO THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. as some historians say, was burned to death with several other Chris- tians in a furnace. Serapion, a Christian, was seized at Alexandria. He had his bones broken, and was then thrown from the roof of a high building, and killed by the fall. Julianus, an old man, lame with the gout ; and Cronion, another Christian, were bound on the backs of camels, severely scourged, and then thrown into a fire and consumed. A spectator who seemed to pity them was ordered to be beheaded, as a punishment. Macar, a Libyan Christian, was burned. Horon-Ater and Isodorus, Egyp- tians, with Dioschorus, a boy of fifteen, after suffering many other torments, met with a similar fate ; and Nemesion, another Egyptian, was first tried as a thief, but being acquitted, was accused of Chris- tianity. Confessing this, he was scourged, tortured, and finally burned. Ischyrian, the Christian servant of an Egyptian nobleman, was run through with a spear by his own master, for refusing to sacrifice to idols. Venatius, a youth of fifteen, was martyred in Italy ; and forty virgins, at Antioch, after being imprisoned and scourged, were de- stroyed by fire. The Emperor causes Seven Soldiers to be Starved. The emperor Decius, having erected a pagan temple at Ephesus, commanded all who were in that city to sacrifice to the idols. This order was nobly refused by seven of his own soldiers, Maximianus, Martianus, Joannes, Malchus, Dionysius, Constantinus, and Seraion. The emperor, wishing first to try persuasion, gave them time to con- sider till he returned from a journey. But in the absence of the em- peror they escaped, and hid themselves in a cavern. Decius was told of this on his return, and the mouth of the cavern was closed up, so the seven soldiers all starved to death there. Fate of a Lady of Antioch. Theodora, a beautiful young lady of Antioch, on refusing to sacri- THE SEVENTH PERSECUTION. 8 1 fice to the Roman idols, was condemned to prison. Didymus, her lover, a Christian, then disguised himself in the habit of a Roman soldier, went to the cell in which Theodora had been confined, and persuaded her to make her escape in his armor. Didymus being found in the dungeon, instead of the lady, was taken before the gov- ernor, to whom he confessed the truth, and sentence of death was immediately pronounced against him. In the meantime, Theodora, hearing that her deliverer was likely to suffer, came to the judge, threw herself .at his feet, and begged that the sentence might fall only upon her as the guilty person, and not upon her lover. But the inhuman tyrant condemned them both, and they were executed accordingly, being first beheaded and their bodies afterward burned. Secundianus having been accused as a Christian, was conveyed to prison by some soldiers. On the way, Verianus and Marcellinus said, " Where are you taking the innocent ?" This question caused them to be seized, and all three, after having been tortured, were hanged. After they were dead their heads were cut off. Origen's Narrow Escape from Death. Origen, the celebrated author and teacher of Alexandria, at the age of sixty-four, was seized, thrown into a loathsome prison, loaded with chains, and his feet placed in the stocks, which held his legs stretched widely apart. Although Origen is said by historians to have been learned, ingenious, temperate, and charitable, no mercy was shown him on that account. According to Jerome the books he had written amounted to an almost incredible number. Their sale, added to what he had gained by the instruction of boys, enabled him to support his mother and six brethren after the martyrdom of his father Leonidas. His great work called the Hexapla, from its pre- senting six versions of the sacred text in as many columns, gave the first hint for Polyglot Bibles. 82 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. Origen was threatened by fire, and tormented by every means that the most cruel men could suggest. His Christian fortitude bore him through all; though such was the rigor of his judge, that his tor- tures were ordered to be lingering, that death might not too soon put an end to his miseries. During the torture, however, the emperor Decius died, and Gallus, who succeeded him, engaging in a war with the Goths, the Chris- tians met with a respite ; thus Origen obtained his freedom, and going to Tyre, he there remained till his death, which took place in the sixty-ninth year of his age. The Christians are Accused. After the emperor Gallus had ended the war with the Goths, a plague broke out in the empire ; and sacrifices to the heathen gods were ordered, to appease their wrath. On the Christians refusing to join in these rites, they were charged with being the authors of the calamity. The persecution spread from the interior to the ex- treme parts of the empire, and many fell victims to the rabble. Cornelius, the Christian bishop of Rome, was, among others, seized during this persecution. He was first cruelly scourged, and then beheaded, after having been bishop for only fifteen months and ten days. Lucius, who succeeded Cornelius as bishop of Rome, was the son of Porphyrius, and a Roman by birth. His earnest zeal in the ministry made him hated by the foes of Christianity; he was therefore taken and beheaded. This bishop was succeeded by Stephanus, a man of fiery eloquence, who held the office a few years, and who would probably have fallen a martyr also, had not the emperor been murdered by his general ^milian. This act of violence was followed by a profound peace throughout the whole empire, and the persecution came to an end. CHAPTER VII. THE EIGHTH GENERAL PERSECUTION UNDER THE ROMAN EMPERORS, a. d. 257. After the death of Gallus, ^Emilian, the general, was slain by his enemies in the army, and Valerian was raised to the throne. This emperor, for the space of four years, governed with modera- tion and treated the Christians kindly. But after a time an Egyptian magician, named Macrianus, gained great influence over him, and persuaded him to persecute them. Laws were accordingly made, and the persecution continued for three years and six months. During this time the martyrs who suffered were many, and their tortures various and terrible. Two Roman Ladies are Condemned. Rufina and Secunda, two beautiful and accomplished young women, were the daughters of a rich citizen of Rome, named Asterius. Rufina, the elder, was engaged to be married to a young nobleman, named Armentarius ; and Secunda, the younger, to Verinus, who was also a man of rank. Both these young men called themselves Christians, but when the persecution began they renounced their faith and returned to the worship of the ancient gods. More courageous than their suitors, the young women firmly refused to renounce their faith, though urged to do so by all their acquaintances ; at last, however, as a measure of safety, they were prevailed upon to leave the city and to take refuge in a country house some distance from Rome. But this did not save them, for they were soon found out and 84 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. brought before the governor. After several trials, and cruel tortures, which they bore with unflinching heroism, the two young women were martyred, by being beheaded- with the sword. Martyrdom of Stephen, Bishop of Rome. About this time Stephen, bishop of Rome, was beheaded, and Saturnius, bishop of Toulouse, was attacked and seized by the rabble of that place, for preventing, as they thought, their oracles from speak- ing. On refusing to sacrifice to the idols, he was treated with great barbarity, and finally fastened by the feet to the tail of a bull. At a signal being given the enraged animal was driven down the steps of the temple, and the martyr's brains dashed out. Among all the Christians who lived at Toulouse not one had the courage to cany away the dead body. At last two women took it up and buried it in a ditch. This martyr was a very learned man, and his writings were held in high esteem. Sextus, Bishop of Rome. Stephen was succeeded by Sextus as bishop of Rome. He is supposed to have been a Greek by birth. He served for some time in the capacity of a deacon under Stephen. His great fidelity, singular wisdom, and courage, distinguished him upon many occa- sions; and the successful termination of a bitter controversy with some heretics was due to his prudence. Macrianus, who at this time had the management of the Roman government, procured an order from the emperor Valerian to put to death all the Christian clergy at Rome, and the senate having ap- proved, Sextus was one of the first to fall a victim; he was be- headed, and six of his deacons suffered with him. The Story of St. Laurence. Laurentius, usually called St. Laurence, was archdeacon under THE EIGHTH PERSECUTION. 85 Sextus, and when that bishop was led out to execution, Laurence accompanied and comforted him. As they parted from each other for the last time, Sextus warned his faithful follower that his mar- tyrdom would come soon after his own : that this prophecy was true is indicated by the tradition that has been handed down to us telling of his subsequent seizure and cruel death. The Christian church of Rome, even at this early period, had in its treasury considerable riches — both in money, and in gold and silver vessels used at the services of the church. All these treasures were under the watchful eye of Laurence, the archdeacon. Besides maintaining its clergy, the church supported many poor widows and orphans ; nearly fifteen hundred of these poor people, whose names Laurence kept upon his list, lived upon the charity of the church. Sums of money were also constantly needed to help struggling churches which had been newly established in distant parts of the world. Macrianus, governor of Rome under the emperor Valerian, had heard of these riches, and longed to seize them ; he therefore sent soldiers to arrest Laurence, who was soon taken and dragged before the governor. As soon as Macrianus' pitiless eyes rested upon the prisoner, he said harshly : I hear that you who call yourselves Christians possess treasures of gold and silver, and that your priests use golden vessels at your services. Is this true ? Laurence answered : The church, indeed, has great treasures. Then bring those treasures forth, said Macrianus. Do not your sacred books tell you to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's ? The emperor has need of those riches for the defence of the empire ; therefore you must render them up. After reflecting deeply for a few moments, Laurence replied : In three days I will bring before you the greatest treasures of the church. 86 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. This answer satisfied the governor ; so Laurence was set free, and Macrianus impatiently awaited the time when the expected stores of gold and silver should be placed before him. On the appointed day Macrianus, attended by his officers, came to the place where the Christians usually assembled. They were calmly received by Laurence at the entrance, and invited to pass into an inner room. Are the treasures collected ? was the first question of Macrianus. They are, my lord, replied Laurence ; will you enter and view them ? With these words he opened a door and displayed to the astounded gaze of the governor, the poor pensioners of the church, a chosen number — a row of the lame, a row of the blind, orphans and widows, the helpless and the weak. Astonished by the sight, the governor turned fiercely upon Laurence, saying : " What mean you by this mockery? Where are the treasures of gold and silver you prom- ised to deliver up?" These that you see before you, replied the undaunted Laurence, are the true treasures of the church. In the widows and orphans you behold her gold and her silver, her pearls and precious stones. These are her real riches. Make use of them by asking for their prayers ; they will prove your best weapons against your foes.. Enraged and disappointed at not securing the hoped-for gold (which had been carried to a place of safety during the three days that had elapsed), the governor furiously commanded his guards to seize Laurence and take him to a dungeon. There, terrible to relate, a great fire was built upon the stone floor, and a huge gridiron placed upon it ; then the martyr was stripped of his clothing and thrown upon this fiery bed, to slowly perish in the scorching heat. The cruel tyrant gazed down upon this dreadful sight to gratify his hatred and revenge; but the martyr had strength and spirit to triumph over him even to the last. Not a murmur escaped him, but with his dying breath he prayed for the Christian church at MARTYRDOM OF ST. LAWRENCE. 88 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. Rome, and for the conversion of the entire empire to God ; and so, lifting up his eyes to heaven, he gave up the ghost. A Roman soldier, named Romanus, who looked on at the suf- ferings of St. Laurence, was so much affected by the martyr's cour- age and faith that he became a convert to Christianity. As soon as this was known the soldier was severely scourged, and after- ward beheaded. The Story of Cyprian. For years the persecution of the Christians had raged in Africa, and many thousands of innocent persons had been slain. One of the most distinguished of the martyrs was Cyprian, bishop of Carthage. Cyprian belonged to a noble and wealthy family. He had been brought up from a child to believe in the ancient gods of heathen Rome. His talents were so great, he was so eloquent a speaker, and so practised in philosophy, that he was admired by all, and hun- dreds gladly listened to him whenever he chose to speak in public. Being very rich, Cyprian lived in great splendor. He dressed mag- nificently, feasted luxuriously, and he was vain of his position and fond of every kind of fashionable pleasure and parade. He appeared, indeed, to think that man was born only to gratify his appetites, and created to enjoy pleasures alone. But all this was to be changed; and from the proud, self-indulgent pagan, Cyprian was to become the humble follower of Christ. A man named Ccecilius, a Christian of Carthage, was the means of Cyprian's conversion. Owing to this, and to the great affection the distinguished convert afterward showed for his adviser, Cyprian came to be called Ccecilius Cyprian. Before Cyprian's baptism he studied the Scriptures with care, and being greatly impressed by their beauty and truth, determined to live the rest of his life in accordance with their precepts. He there- THE EIGHTH PERSECUTION. 89 fore sold his estate, distributed the money among the poor, clothed himself plainly, and commenced a life of austerity and solitude. Soon after his baptism he was made a presbyter; and being greatly admired for his virtue and ability, he was, on the death of Donatus, elected bishop of Carthage. The care of Cyprian extended not only over Carthage, but to Numidia and Mauritania. It was Cyprian's custom, before deciding upon any important action, to ask the advice of his clergy. He made it one of his maxims, that unity could only be preserved in the church by a close communion between the pastor and his flock. But at last, in spite of his useful and holy life, Cyprian was pointed out by his heathen enemies as a leader of the hated Christian band. Then followed demands for his arrest and trial ; and soon he was publicly charged with offences against the laws. A decree was issued against him by the emperor Decius, in which he was called Ccecilius Cyprian, bishop of the Christians ; and then there began to be heard in the city which once heaped honors upon him, the terrible cry of " Cyprian to the lions ! Cyprian to the beasts !" Urged by his friends to save himself by flight, before it was too late, Cyprian left the city and took up his abode in the desert, where he gathered about him a little company of Christians who had fled, like himself, from the fury of their enemies. Here they passed the tedious hours of exile in cultivating the barren soil of their place of refuge, and in praying for a better time for the church which they loved. After two years spent in this way, word was brought to them from Carthage that a terrible plague had broken out in the city, and that thousands of people were dying of the disease. A coun- cil was held, and it was decided that it was the duty of the little band to go to the aid of those who had used them so cruelly. At Carthage the plague advanced from house to house ; terror reigned, kindness and compassion were unknown. The plague- 90 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. stricken were thrown out into the streets to die, and the city was filled with groans and lamentations, and appeals for help which fell unheeded upon the ears of those whose fears rendered them mer- ciless and almost savage. In the midst of this terrible scene Cyprian appeared. He called around him his band of Christians — many of them bearing in their distorted limbs the tokens of their fellow-citizens' hate — he exhorted them to remember whose they were, and whose example they should follow, and who it was that had commanded them to " do good to them that persecute you." They then divided the city into districts ; each member of the Christian church of Carthage was assigned his work. The rich contributed money, others served as nurses ; and the followers of Christ became indeed the salt of the city — light and life in the midst of darkness and death. But soon the hatred of the hardened enemies of Christ broke out afresh. They accused the Christians of being the cause of the plague, and persecution began again. Cyprian was therefore arrested, brought to trial, and sentenced to banishment. After nearly twelve months a new proconsul was appointed to Africa, and Cyprian re- turned from his exile. The persecution had not yet abated, and he soon received a summons to appear before the proconsul. The news spread like wildfire, and crowds of both Christians and heathen as- sembled in order to be present at his trial. The proconsul said, Art thou Cyprian, the bishop of so many impious and unruly men ? The most sacred emperor commands thee to sacrifice ! Cyprian replied, I will not sacrifice ! Take time to consider, before refusing to obey, said the proconsul ; why should you throw away your life? Do not waste time in questioning me, but inflict whatever pun- ishment you may consider just, answered Cyprian; the case admits of no argument. THE EIGHTH PERSECUTION. 9 1 The proconsul then pronounced sentence against him, that he must die by the sword. On hearing this the only words that fell from Cyprian's lips were, " God be thanked !" He was conducted into a neighboring field which was thickly surrounded by trees. Into the branches of these the eager multitude climbed, to see the last scene of all. In the open part of the field Cyprian knelt down, covering his eyes with his hands, and as the sword descended the Christians pressed forward, eager to steep their handkerchiefs in his blood, to preserve them as precious tokens in remembrance of their beloved leader. So died Cyprian, a man transformed by the true spirit of Chris- tianity ; the most eminent bishop of his time, a loving friend and faithful minister. The Strange Trial of Eugenia. Philippus, governor of Alexandria, had a daughter named Eugenia, who was very beautiful, and to whom he was tenderly attached. Now it happened that a Christian slave-girl in the household of the gov- ernor often talked to her young mistress about the joys of believing, and so Eugenia herself became a convert to the faith. Not daring to make her conversion known, on account of the punishments that she feared would follow, Eugenia fled from her father's house and took refuge with Helenus, an aged bishop of the church. To aid in her concealment she called herself Eugenius, dressed in the robes usually worn by young men, and was ad- mitted into the monastery of a Christian society in Alexandria, with- out her sex or identity being suspected. After some years spent in this manner the head of the society died, and the supposed Eugenius, who had by this time grown to be much loved and respected, was chosen to fill his place. After becoming the head of the monastery she w r as often asked to cure the sick, and was supposed to work many miracles of healing. 92 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. Among others who were cured by her was a woman of Alexandria, named Melancia, who, it seems, fell in love with her, supposing her to be a man. Eugenia refused to listen to, or even see, her too sus- ceptible patient, after she had learned of her infatuation for herself. Angered by such treatment, Melancia's love turned to hate, and de- siring to be revenged against one who thus spurned her advances, she charged Eugenia, as well as the other inmates of the monastery, with the grossest crimes. The accused members of the society were brought before the governor, Philippus, Eugenia's father, for trial. As the prisoners were Christians, they were believed to be guilty before any proof had been brought; for in the opinion of the ignorant mob Chris- tians were capable of any crime. Eugenia saw the danger, and knowing that she could save both herself and her companions by telling the governor that she was his daughter, asked him to allow her time and place to make mani- fest the truth. This being granted, she disclosed to him that she was his daughter Eugenia, and that her only companions were Protheus and Hiacinthus, two Christian men. By this confession the judge was convinced of her innocence, and her false accuser was utterly confounded. Philip- pus himself was afterward converted to Christianity, made bishop of Alexandria, and suffered martyrdom. Eugenia, after the death of her father, returned to Rome with Protheus and Hiacinthus, and having there converted Basilla (a lady who was to have been married to a heathen, but then refused), she was tortured in various ways and finally thrown into the river Tiber, fastened to a heavy stone, and thus drowned. Dreadful Fate of the Emperor Valerian. This tyrant, who had persecuted the Christians for more than three years, was taken prisoner by Sapor, king of Persia, who carried THE EMPEROR VALERIAN FLAYED BY ORDER OF SAPOR, KING OF PERSIA. 94 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. him into his own country, and there treated him with the utmost cruelty. Sapor made him kneel down before him as if he were his meanest slave, and used him as a footstool when he mounted his horse, saying in a tone of taunting contempt, " This crouching form of him who was once an emperor, shows which way the vic- tory went, better than all the pictures the Roman artists can draw." Having kept Valerian for the space of seven years in this pitiful state of slavery, Sapor then ordered his eyes to be put out. Vale- rian was now blind as well as a captive, but his cruel master's re- venge was far from being satisfied even then ; for soon after he ordered the unfortunate emperor to be flayed alive, under which tor- ments he expired. Gallienus, the son of Valerian, succeeded him, and during his reign the empire suffered many commotions, particularly earth- quakes, pestilence, inundations, and attacks of barbarians. This emperor, reflecting that when his father favored the Christians he prospered, and that when he persecuted them he was unsuccessful, determined to stop the persecution. Therefore, except for a few outrages, the church enjoyed peace for some years. The chief of those who suffered was Marnius, a centurion, who was arrested as a Christian, and given but three hours in which to choose whether he would sacrifice to the heathen gods, or die. Wavering during this interval, a Christian companion placed the gospel and a sword before him, and asked which he would choose. Marnius took the sword without hesitation. On coming again before the governor, he made a noble confession of his faith, and was soon after beheaded. THE NINTH GENERAL PERSECUTION UNDER THE ROMAN EMPERORS, a. d. 270. The emperor who next began a persecution against the Chris- tians was Aurelian. Among those who suffered during, this time THE NINTH PERSECUTION. 95 was Felix, bishop of Rome, who was beheaded. Agapctus, a young Roman, who sold his estate and gave the money to the poor, was seized as a Christian, tortured, and then brought to Praeneste, a city within a day's journey of Rome, where he was beheaded. These are the only martyrs whose names are recorded during this reign ; as the persecution w r as soon stopped, owing to the emperor being murdered by his own soldiers, at Byzantium. Aurelian was succeeded by Tacitus, who was followed by Probus, and he by Carus : this emperor being killed by a thunder-storm, his sons, Carinus and Numerianus, succeeded him ; and during all these reigns the church enjoyed rest. Rome under Diocletian. Diocletian became emperor in the year 284. He at first showed favor to the Christians, but when he appointed Maximian, a fellow- soldier, to rule jointly with him, a dreadful persecution was begun. Felician and Primus, two brothers, were seized by an order from the imperial court : owning themselves Christians, they were scourged, tortured, and finally beheaded. Marcus and Marcellianus were twins, natives of Rome, and of noble descent. Their parents were heathens, but the tutors to whom the education of the children was entrusted, brought them up as Christians. Being arrested on account of their faith, they were tortured, and then sentenced to be beheaded. A delay of a month was obtained by their friends, during which their father, mother, and other near relatives, attempted to bring them back to heathenism, but in vain. At last their constancy converted even those who would have persuaded them, and their parents and whole family became converts to a faith they had just before condemned. When the month had passed, Tranquillinus, the father of the two young men, was sent for by the prefect, to give him an account of his endeavors. He then confessed, that so far from having persuaded g6 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. his sons to forsake the faith, he had become a Christian himself. He then stood silent till the judge had recovered from his surprise. Re- suming his discourse, he used such powerful arguments that he made a convert of the magistrate also, who soon after sold his estate, resigned his command, and spent the remainder of his days in pious retirement. The judge who succeeded the above-mentioned convert had nothing of the disposition of his predecessor. He was a cruel and bloody-minded man, who seized every Christian he could lay his hands on. Some were martyred by being tied to posts, and having their hands and feet pierced with nails ; after remaining in this dreadful condition for a day and night, their sufferings were ended by lances being thrust through their bodies. Zoe, the wife of the jailer who had charge of these martyrs, being greatly interested in their conversation, expressed a desire to become a Christian. As she was speechless with palsy, she could only express herself by signs. They gave her instructions in the faith, and told her to pray in her heart to God to cure her of her disease. She did so, and was at length relieved. Her paralytic disorder by degrees left her, and her speech returned again. This strengthened her faith, and she was confirmed as a Christian. Her husband, finding his wife had been made well, became a convert himself. These conversions made a great talk, and the two were arrested and brought before the judge for trial. Zoe was commanded to sacrifice to Mars, and upon refusing, she was hanged upon a tree, and a fire of straw lighted under her. When her charred and lifeless body was taken down, it was thrown into a river, and sunk to the bottom by being tied to a great stone. Tibertius, a native of Rome, was of a family of rank and distinc- tion. It is related by one historian, that being accused as a Chris- tian, he was commanded either to sacrifice to idols, or to walk upon burning coals. He chose the latter, and passed over them without ZOE IS CRUELLY PUT TO DEATH FOR REFUSING TO WORSHIP MARS. 98 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. damage. Fabian then passed sentence upon him that he should be beheaded; this was done, and his body was afterward buried by some Christian friends. Massacre of a Whole Legion of Christian Soldiers. A legion of soldiers, consisting of about 6000 men, were all Chris- tians. It was called the Theban legion, and had been quartered in the East till the emperor Maximian ordered them to march to Gaul, to assist in fighting against the rebels of Aquitania. Passing the Alps under the command of their captain, they at length joined the emperor. Before engaging with the enemy Maximian ordered a general sacrifice, at which the whole army was to assist. He com- manded that the men should also take oaths of allegiance, and swear to assist him in driving Christianity out of Gaul. Deeply concerned at these orders, each man of the Theban legion resolutely refused either to sacrifice or take the oaths prescribed. This so greatly enraged Maximian that he ordered the legion to be decimated, that is, every tenth man to be selected from the rest, and put to the sword. This cruel order was at once carried out, but those who remained were still firm. A second decimation then took place, and every tenth man of those living was killed. But this second slaughter made no more impression than the first. By the advice of their officers the remnant of the legion drew up a remonstrance to the emperor, in which the men said, they were his subjects and his soldiers, but could not forget the Almighty. They received their pay from the emperor, but their lives were given them by God. They said: "Our arms are devoted to the emperor's use, and shall be directed against his enemies ; but we cannot stain our hands with Christian blood ; and how, indeed, could you, O emperor ! be sure of our fidelity, should we violate our obligation to our God, in whose service we solemnly engaged before we entered the army ? You THE NINTH PERSECUTION 99 command us to search out and to destroy the Christians ; it is not necessary to look any farther than ourselves ; we ourselves are Chris- tians, and we glory in the name. We saw our companions fall with- out the least complaint, and thought them happy in dying for the sake of Christ. But nothing shall make us lift up our hands against our sov- ereign ; we would rather die wrongfully, and by that means preserve our innocence, than live under a load of guilt. Whatever you com- mand, we are ready to suffer : we confess ourselves to be Christians, and therefore cannot persecute our brothers nor sacrifice to idols." Such a noble reply, it might be supposed, would have moved the emperor to mercy ; but it had a contrary effect. Enraged at their continued refusal to obey, he commanded the whole legion to be put to death, which order was at once carried out by the other troops, who cut them to pieces with their swords. Indeed, it is related, such was the cruelty of Maximian, that he even sent to destroy every man of a few companies which had been drafted from the Theban legion and sent to Italy. A veteran soldier of another legion, whose name was Victor, met these murderers as they returned from their bloody work. As they seemed to be making merry over something, he inquired into the cause, and being told of the whole affair, he denounced them for their cruelty. This excited their curiosity to ask him if he was of the same faith as those who had suffered. On his admitting that he was, the soldiers at once attacked and killed him. St. Alban, the First British Martyr. Alban, commonly called St. Alban, was the first British martyr. He was brought up to believe in the ancient gods of heathen Rome ; but being of a very kindly disposition, he sheltered a Christian, named Amphibalus, who was pursued on account of his religion. The conversation of his guest made a great impression on the mind of Alban ; he longed to know more of a religion which had such IOO THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. power to touch his heart. The fugitive took advantage of the opportunity, and instructed Alban in the principles of the Christian faith, and soon completed his conversion. Alban now took a firm resolution to preserve the faith of a Chris- tian or to die the death of a martyr. The enemies of Amphibalus having at last found out the place where he was hidden, came to the house of Alban, to take him away. The noble host, desirous of pro- tecting his guest, changed clothes with him, in order that he might escape; and when the soldiers came, gave himself up as the person for whom they were seeking. Alban was taken before the governor, where the deceit was immediately discovered; and Amphibalus being gone, that officer determined to wreak his vengeance upon Alban. Pointing to an altar which stood before a statue, he commanded the prisoner to advance and sacrifice to Jupiter. The brave Alban refused, and cried out, I am a Christian ! The governor then ordered him to be dragged to the foot of the statue, but failing to make him kneel before it he furiously commanded that he should be scourged. This punishment Alban bore with great courage, seeming to acquire new resolution from his sufferings. After scourging him, the governor commanded that his. head should be cut off with a sword. The historian, Bede, has narrated that, when Alban was led out to die, the executioner himself suddenly became converted to Chris- tianity, and begged permission either to die for Alban or with him. Being granted the latter request, they were both beheaded with the same sword. This martyrdom took place in England, then a Roman province, at the town of Verulam, now St. Albans, in Hertfordshire. A mag- nificent church was afterward erected there to St. Alban's memory, during the time of Constantine the Great. This church was de- stroyed in the Saxon wars, but was rebuilt by Offa, king of Mer- cia. Some of its ruins still remain. ST. ALBAN REFUSES TO KNEEL TO THE STATUE OP JUPITER. 102 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. Martyrdom of St. Faith, and Others. Faith, a Christian woman of Aquitania, in Gaul, being told that an order had gone forth to seize her, surrendered herself a prisoner. Being firm in her faith, she was beheaded, and her body afterward burned. Capercius, a Christian, concealed himself from the persecutors, but being told of the courage of Faith he openly avowed his religion, and delivered himself up to the governor, who had him first tor- tured and then beheaded. Quintin, a Christian and a native of Rome, determined to preach the gospel in Gaul. He accordingly went to that province, attended by one Lucian, and they preached there together ; after which Lucian went to Avaricum, where he suffered martyrdom. Quintin, however, escaped for a time, and was very active in the ministry. His continual prayers to the Almighty were to increase his faith, and strengthen his faculties to spread the gospel. After a time he was seized upon as a Christian, and was stretched with pulleys till his joints were dislocated, and his body was torn with scourges. After he had been thus tortured, he was taken back to prison. Varus, the governor, being obliged to go on a journey, ordered Quintin to be carried before him by his guard, and he soon died of the wounds he had received. Donatilla, Maxima, and Others. •Donatilla, Maxima, and Secunda, three virgins of Tuburga, were scourged, tormented on a gallows, and at last beheaded. Pontius, a native of the city of Simela, near the Alps, being seized as a Christian, was worried by wild beasts, then beheaded, and his body thrown into the river. CHAPTER VIII. THE TENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION UNDER THE ROMAN EMPERORS, a. d. 303. In spite of all the efforts made to destroy them by their heathen foes, the Christians increased greatly in numbers and in wealth. As they became stronger they threw off much of that humility and care to avoid notice which had distinguished them in the earlier ages. They began to build churches and to assemble in them for wor- ship. This excited the envy of the heathen, and the emperor, Dio- cletian, was persuaded to begin a persecution against them. Nicomedia, a city of Asia Minor, was the place where the Chris- tians were first attacked. The prefect, or governor of the city, marched with a number of soldiers to the Christian church, and forced open the doors. They then destroyed all the books and sacred vessels they found there, and afterward levelled the building to the ground. The emperor then issued an edict, commanding the destruction of all the other Christian churches and their contents. Another law followed, making Christians incapable of holding any place of trust, profit, or dignity, or of receiving any protection from the courts of the empire. One martyrdom was the immediate result of the pub- lication of this edict ; for a bold Christian not only tore it down from the place where it was put up, but reviled the name of the emperor for his injustice and cruelty. He was in consequence seized, severely tortured, and then burned alive. The Christian ministers were like- wise taken and imprisoned, and it was even claimed that the emperor privately ordered the imperial palace to be set on fire, so that the Christians might be charged with the crime, and a pretext given for carrying on the persecution with greater severity. 103 104 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. A General Sacrifice to Idols Commanded. A general sacrifice was then commanded, which caused many mar- tyrdoms. Among others, a Christian named Peter was tortured and then burned. Several deacons and presbyters were dragged from their homes, and killed in various ways. The bishop of Nicomedia, named Anthimus, was beheaded. Such was the cruelty of their enemies, that no mercy was shown to age or sex, but women and children alike were slain. Many houses were set on fire, and whole Christian families perished in the flames. Others had stones fastened about their necks, and were driven into the sea. The persecution became general in all the Roman provinces; and as it lasted ten years, it is impossible to know how many were martyred, or to tell how they died. Some were beheaded in Arabia ; others devoured by wild beasts in Phoenicia; numbers were burned in Syria; many had their bones broken, and in that manner were left to expire, in Cappadocia. In Mesopotamia, Christians were hung with their heads downward over a slow fire, and so burned. In Pontus, a variety of tortures were used. In Egypt, some were buried alive in the earth, others were drowned in the Nile, many were hung in the air till they per- ished, and numbers were thrown into large fires. Scourges, racks, daggers, swords, poison, crosses, and starvation, were made use of in various countries to destroy the Christians ; and invention was exhausted in devising tortures for them. A town of Phrygia, inhabited entirely by Christians, was sur- rounded by a number of soldiers, in order to prevent any from get- ting away ; the town was then set on fire, and the people perished in the flames or were killed while trying to escape. Protesting Against the Slaughter. At last several governors of the provinces represented to the im- perial court that it was unwise to pollute the cities with the blood of THE TENTH PERSECUTION. 105 the inhabitants, or to defame the government of the emperors with the deaths of so many Roman subjects. After this many who were held in prisons were saved from exe- cution ; but though not put to death, they were subjected to every kind of indignity. Many had their ears cut off, their noses slit, their right eyes put out, their limbs dislocated, and their flesh seared in conspicuous places with hot irons. St. Sebastian Shot with Arrows. Among those who lost their lives during this bloody persecution was Sebastian, a holy man who was born at Narbonne in Gaul, in- structed in Christianity at Milan, and made an officer of the em- peror's guard at Rome. Sebastian remained a true Christian in the midst of idolatry, un- affected by the splendors of a court, and untainted by evil example. Esteemed by the most eminent, beloved by his equals, and admired by his inferiors, he lived happily, and kept his faith and his place, until the rigors of the persecution deprived him of life. He was informed against, and betrayed to Fabian, the Roman general, by Torquatus, a pretended Christian. Sebastian was of too high rank to be put to death without the emperor's express command, so an appeal was made to Diocletian. The emperor, on hearing the accusation, sent for Sebastian, and charged him with ungratefully betraying the confidence he had placed in him, by being, at heart, an enemy to the gods of the empire and to himself. To this charge Sebastian answered, that his religion was of a good, not an evil tendency, that it did not influence him to do anything against the welfare of the empire ; and that the greatest proof he could give of his good will, was by praying to the only true God for the health and prosperity of the emperor. Angered at this reply, the emperor ordered him to be taken to a 106 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. field near the city, called the Campus Martius, there to be shot with arrows ; and this cruel sentence was immediately carried out. But a few Christian friends, who came to the place of execution to bury Sebastian's body, perceived signs of life in him, and moving him to a place of safety, he in a short time recovered. This, however, only prepared him for a second martyrdom ; for as soon as he was able to walk, he placed himself in the emperor's way as he was going to the temple. The unexpected appearance of a man supposed to be dead, naturally startled the emperor, nor did his words less astonish him ; for Sebastian sternly reproved the tyrant for his various cruelties, and for his unreasonable hatred of Christianity. As soon as Diocletian had recovered from his surprise, he ordered Sebastian to be seized, carried to a place near the palace, and beaten to death ; and in order that the Christians should not again help him back to life, or even buiy his dead body, he ordered that it should be thrown into a deep ditch. Nevertheless, a Christian lady, named Lucina, found a way to remove his remains, and bury them in the catacombs. Christians Refuse to Bear Arms. Many of the Christians thought it wrong to bear arms under a heathen emperor; because they were obliged, with the rest of the army, to be present at idolatrous sacrifices before the idols, and were compelled to follow the imperial standards, which were dedi- cated to the heathen deities. Such reasons caused many to refuse to enter the imperial army, when called upon to do so ; for the Roman law obliged all young men, above a certain stature, to make several campaigns. Maximilian, the son of Fabius Victor, being pointed out as a proper person to bear arms, was ordered by Dion, the proconsul, to be measured, that he might be enlisted in the service. Maximilian, ■ -^ J^Vl^cleru SEBASTIAN SHOT WITH ARROWS. 108 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. however, boldly declared himself a Christian, and refused to do mili- tary duty. Being found of the required height, Dion gave direc- tions that he should be marked as a soldier, according to the usual custom. Maximilian, however, boldly opposed this order, and told Dion, that he would not engage in the service. The proconsul instantly replied, that he should either serve as a soldier, or die for disobe- dience. Do as you please with me, replied Maximilian ; behead me, if you will ; I am already a soldier of Christ, and cannot serve any other power. Dion, wishing to save the young man's life, advised his father to use his authority over him, in order to make him obey ; but the father replied, " My son knoweth that which is right for him to do." Dion then demanded of Maximilian, if he was yet disposed to receive the mark. To this the young man replied, he had already received the mark of Christ. Have you ? exclaimed the proconsul furiously, then I shall quickly send you to your master; and calling a guard he ordered them to take Maximilian and cut off his head. At the place of execution, the young martyr exhorted those who were Christians to remain so ; and such as were not, to embrace a faith which led to eternal salvation. Then addressing his father with a cheerful countenance, he asked that the armor intended for him- self might be given to the executioner: and, after taking leave of him, said he hoped they should meet again in the other world, and be happy to all eternity. Then with patience he received the stroke which ended his life. A Father Sacrifices His Own Son. Vitus, a young Sicilian of good family, became a Christian through the teaching of a nurse who took care of him when a child. The young man's father, whose name was Hylas, used every effort to make his son return to the worship of the heathen gods. Failing THE TENTH PERSECUTION. IO9 in this, the father seemed to lose all the natural affection of a parent, and informed against his son to Valerian, governor of Sicily, who was very active in persecuting the Christians at this time. Valerian sentenced the young man to be scourged, and after this had been done with great severity, sent him back to his father, think- ing that what he had suffered would make him change his faith. But in this he was mistaken ; and Hylas, finding his son still holding the same opinions, sacrificed the human instincts of a father to his heathen superstitions, and prepared to send his son back to the governor. On being warned of this, Vitus escaped to Lucania, where he was seized, by order of Valerian, and put to death. His nurse, Crescentia, through whose teaching it was that he had become a Christian, and Modestus, a man who escaped with him, were martyred at the same time. Victor, a Christian of Massilia. Victor, a young man of Massilia, a city of southern Gaul, was a devout Christian. Much of his time was spent in the work of the church, and in assisting its poorer members. He was at last charged with offending against the superstitions cf the pagan priests, seized by the emperor's order, and brought before the judge for trial. The magistrate examined the prisoner, and after he had finished questioning him, advised him strongly to return to the worship of the heathen gods, and not to lose all the advantages he might enjoy by gaining the emperor's favor. Victor replied that he was a servant of Christ, and that no position offered to him by an earthly prince should interfere with his duty to the King of Heaven. For this bold reply, Victor was sent to the emperor to receive his final sentence. When the young man was brought before him, Max- imian commanded him, under the severest penalties, to sacrifice to the Roman idols. On his refusal, he was ordered to be bound and dragged through the streets. During the execution of this sentence, he was treated by the brutal mob with great cruelty. IIO THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. Remaining firm in his belief in spite of the violence of the crowd, the young man was next ordered to be put upon the rack. Victor heard his dreadful doom with a shudder, but turning his eyes toward heaven, prayed to God to give him courage ; after which he bore the tortures with wonderful patience. When the executioners became tired he was taken from the rack and car- ried to a dungeon. During his confinement, he converted the jailers, named Alexander, Felician, and Longinus ; this coming to the knowledge of the emperor, he ordered them immediately to be put to death, and they were beheaded accordingly. Victor was afterward again put to the rack, beaten with clubs, and then sent back to his dungeon. Being a third time examined concerning his religion, he made the same answers. A small altar was then brought, and he was commanded to offer incense upon it ; but instead of doing this he boldly stepped forward, and with his foot overset both altar and idol. The emperor Maximian, who was present, was so enraged at this, that he ordered the foot with which he had kicked the altar, to be im- mediately cut off; and Victor himself to be thrown into a mill, and crushed to pieces with the stones. This horrid sentence was put into execution ; but part of the mill breaking, he was drawn from it, terribly bruised but still alive. The emperor not having patience to stay till it was mended, ordered the martyr's head to be struck off, which was accordingly done. Wonderful Courage of Three Christian Friends. While Maximus, governor of Cilicia, was at the city of Tarsus, three Christians were brought before him by Demetrius, a military officer. Tarachus, the eldest of the prisoners, and the highest in rank, was addressed by Maximus, who asked him what he was ? The prisoner replied, A Christian. This reply offending the governor, THE TENTH PERSECUTION. Ill he again asked the same question, and was answered in a similar manner. The governor then began to argue the case, and told Tarachus that he ought to sacrifice to the gods, as that was the only way to get riches and honors ; and that even the emperors themselves did so. Tarachus replied, that avarice was a sin, and gold itself an idol as hurtful as any other ; for it brought about frauds, treacheries, robberies, and murders ; it induced men to deceive each other, by which in time they deceived themselves, and bribed the weak to their own eternal destruction. As for promotion, he said he wanted it not, as he could not in conscience accept of any place which would require him to pay adoration to idols. And as to honors, he desired none greater than the noble name of Christian. As to the emperors themselves being pagans, he added with the same undaunted and determined spirit, that they deceived themselves in adoring senseless idols, and were evidently being led to destruction by the devil himself. For the boldness of this speech, Tarachus was struck violently with a staff, breaking his jaw. He was then stripped, scourged, loaded with chains, and thrown into a dismal dungeon, to remain there till after the trials of the other two prisoners. Probus was next brought before Maximus, who asked him his name. Bravely the prisoner replied, that the best name he could boast of was that of a Christian. To this Maximus replied, Your name of Christian will be of little service to you unless you sacri- fice to the gods, and seek the favor of the emperor. Probus answered, that as he had already given up a considerable fortune to become a soldier of Christ, it might be evident that he cared little for the favor of the emperor. He was then scourged ; and Demetrius, the officer, telling him how his blood flowed, ad- vised him to comply ; but his only answer was a shake of the head. "What!" cried Maximus, "does he still persist in his mad- 112 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. ness ? Turn his face toward us that we may see how he takes his punishment !" The body of the unfortunate Probus was then turned about and he was scourged on the breast. He bore this with as much courage as he had shown while being beaten on the back ; and only said, The more my body suffers and loses blood, the more my soul will grow vigorous and strong. He was then committed to jail, loaded with irons, and his hands and feet stretched upon the stocks. Andronicus was next brought up, and upon being asked the usual questions, said, I am a Christian, a native of Ephesus, and decended from one of the first families of that city. He was then sentenced to undergo punishments similar to those of Tarachus and Probus, and sent to prison. Having been confined some days, the three prisoners were again brought before Maximus, who began first to reason with Tarachus, saying, he supposed the punishments he had already suffered had caused him to change. Finding himself, however, mistaken, he or- dered Tarachus to be tortured by various means. Fire was placed in the palms of his hands ; he was hung up by his feet and smoked with wet straw ; and he was sent back again to his dungeon. Probus being then called, and asked if he would sacrifice, replied, " I come better prepared than before ; for what I have already suffered has only confirmed and strengthened me in my resolution. Employ your whole power upon me, and you will find, that neither you, nor the emperor, nor the idols you serve, shall oblige me to adore gods whom I know not." The governor attempted to reason with him, and praised the hea- then gods, and urged him to sacrifice to Jupiter. Probus refused, and said, " Why should I pay divine honors to Jupiter, an infamous cha- racter, as is even acknowledged by your own priests and poets ?" Enraged at this speech, the governor ordered Probus to be struck upon the mouth, for uttering what he called blasphemy ; his body THE TENTH PERSECUTION. 113 was then scared with hot irons, and after these terrible tortures, he was sent back to prison. When Andronicus was next brought before Maximus, the gov- ernor tried to deceive him by pretending that Tarachus and Probus had renounced their faith, and turned to the gods of the empire. To this the prisoner answered, " Lay not, O governor, such a weak- ness to the charge of those.. who have appeared here before me in this cause, nor imagine it to be in your power to shake my fixed resolution with artful speeches. I cannot believe that they have dis- obeyed the laws of their God : nor will I ever fall behind them in faith and dependence upon our common Saviour. I neither know your gods, nor fear your authority ; fulfil your threats, execute your most bloody inventions, and employ every cruel art in your power on me. I am prepared to bear it for the sake of Christ." For this answer Andronicus was cruelly scourged ; but recovering from his wounds in a short time, the governor accused the jailer of having let some physician attend him. The jailer declared that no person whatever had been near him or the other prisoners, and that he would willingly lose his head if anything of the kind could be proved against him. Andronicus said the jailer spoke truly, and added, that the God whom he served was the most powerful of physicians. The three Christians were after a time brought to a third exami- nation. They were again tortured, and at last sentenced for execu- tion. Being brought to the circus or amphitheatre, several beasts were let loose upon them ; but it is related that none of the animals would touch them. Maximus was so much disappointed and angered at this, that he severely reproved the keeper, and ordered him to produce a beast that would do the bloody work. The keeper then brought out a large bear, which had that day destroyed three men. But, wonderful to relate ! this creature, and a fierce lioness also, refused to touch the Christians. Finding it im- 114 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. possible to destroy them by means of wild beasts, Maximus ordered them to be slain by the sword. This was accordingly done ; they all declaring, previous to their martyrdom, that as death was the com- mon lot of all men, they would rather meet it for the sake of Christ, than suffer it by mortal disease. Dreadful Martyrdom of Romanus. Romanus, a native of Palestine, was deacon of the church of Caesarea, at the time of the commencement of Diocletian's persecu- tion. He was at Antioch when the imperial order came for sacri- ficing to idols, and was much grieved to see many Christians, through fear, submit to the idolatrous command, and deny their faith in or- der to preserve their lives. While reproving some of them for their weakness, Romanus was informed against, and soon after arrested. Being brought to the tribunal, he confessed himself a Christian, and said he was willing to suffer anything they could inflict upon him for his confession. When condemned, he was scourged, put to the rack, and his body torn with hooks. While thus cruelly mangled, he turned to the governor, and thanked him for having opened for him so many mouths with which to preach Christianity ; for, said he, every wound is a mouth to sing the praises of the Lord. He was soon after slain by being strangled. A Roman Officer, a Spanish Lady, and Others. Sergius was an officer in the Roman army, and accompanied the emperor Maximian into Syria. Being accused as a Christian he was ordered to sacrifice to Jupiter. Refusing to do this, he was stripped of his armor, and in derision dressed in woman's clothes. He then was forced to march a considerable distance with nails in his sandals. At last an end was put to his sufferings by his being beheaded. A Spanish lady, named Eulalia, of a Christian family, who was EULALIA GIVEN TO THE SOLDIERS. 1 1 6 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. remarkable for sweetness of temper and excellence of understanding, was informed against, as a Christian, and carried before the judge for trial. The magistrate at first attempted by mild means to win her over, but she answered his arguments so skilfully and spoke of the pagan gods with such contempt, that, enraged at her words, he ordered the court to be cleared, and the prisoner disposed of as her accusers might see fit. Eulalia was accordingly hurried to the door and handed over to some brutal soldiers who stood near. These took her, pierced her ten- der flesh with their spears, and afterward burned her body to ashes. The emperor Diocletian falling ill, the persecution was carried on by Galerius, and by the governors of the several provinces. The Story of St. Vincent. Vincent was a Spanish Christian, who had been educated by Vale- rius, bishop of Saragossa. On account of his great merits he was made a deacon. When the persecution reached Spain, Dacian, the governor of Tarragona, ordered Valerius the bishop, and Vincent the deacon, to be seized, loaded with irons, and imprisoned. Some time after, Dacian examined them and threatened them with death, unless they renounced their faith. Vincent, undertaking to speak for both, avowed their full determination to persist in the faith. Hereupon Dacian, in a rage at his boldness of speech, declared that unless he immediately consented to burn incense to the gods, he should himself fall a sacrifice. Both the prisoners resolutely refused to obey the governor. Vale- rius was banished, but the whole of Dacian's rage was exhausted on Vincent ; he was racked, had his limbs dislocated, and his flesh torn with hooks. These horrid torments neither putting an end to his life nor chang- ing his faith, he was sent back to prison, and confined in a dark dun- THE TENTH PERSECUTION. W] geon. Orders were also given not to let him have any food whatever, and that the news of his death should be carried to Dacian as soon as it took place. When the keepers thought him starved, they en- tered the dungeon ; but, instead of finding a corpse as they expected, they beheld Vincent engaged in prayer, his wounds healed, and his body in a good state of health. This speedy recovery, and preservation, had such an effect upon the keepers that it became the means of their conversion. Dacian, how- ever, instead of being impressed by so wonderful a cure, was enraged at the triumph of Vincent over his persecutors, and gave orders for new tortures to be prepared for him, of so severe a nature as to make his death seem certain. But his malice was again disappointed ; for before the instruments could be prepared, God took Vincent to him- self, and he died with as much calmness as if he had only sunk into a gentle sleep. Dacian then ordered that Vincent's body should be exposed in the fields to the vultures ; but they would not touch it, so he commanded that it should be thrown into the river, which was accordingly done. The Torture of Saturninus. The persecution of Diocletian was carried into Africa, and many of the Christians were put to cruel tortures and painful deaths. The most eminent of these was Saturninus, a citizen of Abyla, a town on the sea coast. Being informed against, Saturninus, with four of his children, and several other persons, were arrested, and to make their punishment the more public, they were sent to Carthage, where they were examined by Anulinus, the proconsul. Saturninus, at his examination, gave spirited answers, and upheld the Christian religion with great eloquence. Anulinus, enraged at his boldness, ordered him to be silenced by being put to a variety of tortures, such as scourging, and burning with hot irons. Having been thus dreadfully treated, he was sent back to prison, and there Il8 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. starved to death. His four young children were also cruelly tor- mented, but they all remained firm in their faith. They were then sent back to the dungeon in which their father was confined, and starved to death there with him. There were eight other Christians tortured on the same day as Saturninus, and in much the same manner. Two expired on the spot, through the severity of their sufferings ; and the other six being sent back to prison, were suffocated by the heat and stifling air of their dungeon. Thelico, a pious Christian ; Dativus, a noble Roman senator ; Victoria, a young lady of good family and fortune ; with some others of lower station, who had been hearers of Saturninus, were seized at the same time, tortured in a similar manner, and at last starved to death. Martyrdom of Three Sisters. Three sisters, Chionia, Agape, and Irene, were imprisoned at Thessalonica. They had been educated in the Christian faith, but had taken great care to remain undiscovered, and had retired to a lonely place. When at last found out and seized, they seemed to lose their timidity, blamed themselves for being so fearful, and prayed to God to strengthen them for the great trial they had to undergo. When Agape was examined before Dulcatius, the governor, she was asked whether or not she was disposed to obey the laws ? She answered that she was a Christian, and could not comply with any laws which required the worship of idols ; that her resolution was fixed, and nothing should deter her from continuing in it. Her sister Chionia replied in the same manner. Then the gov- ernor, not being able to make them swerve from their faith, pro- nounced sentence of condemnation against them, and the two were taken out and burned to death. Irene, the youngest of the three sisters, was a beautiful girl, only about eighteen years of age. She had been forced to witness the fate IRENE BURNED AT THESSALONICA 120 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. of her two sisters in the hope of arousing her fears and breaking her spirit. But when she had been taken away from the dreadful scene and brought before the governor, she replied to his questions as fear- lessly as her sisters had done. In vain Dulcatius urged the girl to return to the worship of the heathen gods, and to take part in the feasts held in their honor. She refused utterly to have anything to do with them, and boldly declared that she would rather follow her sisters to the fire than abandon the true faith. When the governor found that he could not influence the girl, he ordered her to be exposed in the streets, to the insults of the soldiery. This shameful order having been carried out, wood was brought, and a fire kindled near the city wall, amidst the flames of which the young martyr's heroic spirit ascended beyond the reach of man's cruelty. Martyrdom of Theodotus and Others. Theotecnus, the governor of Dalmatia, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, received with great pleasure the order to begin persecuting the Christians. He at once wrote the emperor that he would do his utmost to root out Christianity from every place under his rule. Urged on by the governor, the people began to inform against, abuse, and persecute the Christians. Great numbers were seized and imprisoned ; their goods were destroyed, and their houses taken away from them. Many of the poor people fled into the woods, or lived in caves, where some supported themselves by feeding upon roots, and others perished by famine. Some were also starved in the city, by means of the following singular stratagem. The governor gave strict orders, that no provisions whatever should be exposed for sale in the markets without having first been consecrated to the idols. The Christians were therefore compelled to eat what had been offered to the gods, or to go without food and starve. The latter dreadful THE TENTH PERSECUTION. 121 fate was actually suffered by some, who in order to preserve their faith were willing to give up their lives. In these dreadful times, Theodotus, a Christian innkeeper, did all he could to comfort the afflicted. He buried the bodies of several who had been martyred, though this was forbidden on pain of death. He likewise privately furnished many with food ; and having laid in a great stock of grain, he sold it at its mere cost. But not all who called themselves Christians could brave the ter- rors of a cruel death. One named Polychronichus, upon being seized not only renounced his faith in order to preserve his life, but informed against his friend Theodotus, who hearing of his treachery, surren- dered himself to the governor of his own accord. On his arrival in the court, Theodotus looked at the instruments of torture with a smile, and seemed not to care for their effects. When placed on trial, the governor informed him that it was still in his power to save his life, by sacrificing to the gods of the empire ; and more than that, said he, if you will give up your faith in Christ, I promise you that through my friendship and the emperor's pro- tection, you may become one of the chief men of the city. Theodotus displayed great courage and eloquence in his answer to this appeal. He absolutely refused to renounce his faith, declined the friendship of the governor, or protection of the emperor, and treated the idols with the greatest contempt. At this the bystanders cried out against the prisoner, and demanded that he be immediately punished. The heathen priests in particular rent their clothes, and threw down the badges of their office, through rage. The gov- ernor therefore consented to their demands, and directed the execu- tioners to take the prisoner and torture him to the last extremity. Theodotus was then scourged, and next placed upon the rack. After this, his flesh was seared with burning torches, and he was then sent back to prison. As he went, pointing to his mangled body, he said to the people, " It is but just that a Christian should suffer for 122 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. Him who suffered for us all." Five days after he was brought from prison, tortured again, and then beheaded. Seven Aged Women are Drowned. Seven aged women of Ancyra were about this time arrested for their faith. They were examined before the governor, who reviled their belief, ridiculed their age, and ordered them to assist in the idolatrous rites of washing the goddesses Minerva and Diana: for in Ancyra it was the custom eveiy year to cleanse the images of those goddesses. This was considered an important ceremony. Accordingly, they were forced to the temple ; but absolutely re- fusing to wash the idols, the governor was so enraged, that he or- dered them to have stones tied about their necks, and to be pushed into the water intended for the washing. This was immediately done, and the seven aged women were all drowned. Wonderful Courage of Philip, Bishop of Heraclea. Philip, bishop of Heraclea, in Asia Minor, had in almost every act of his life shown himself to be a good Christian. An officer, named Aristomachus, being sent to shut up the Christian church in Heraclea, Philip told him that the shutting up of buildings made by hands could not destroy Christianity ; for the true faith dwelt not in the places where God is adored, but in the hearts of his people. Being denied entrance to the church in which he used to preach, Philip took up his station at the door, and there exhorted the peo- ple to patience, perseverance and godliness. For this he was seized and carried before the governor, who severely reproved him, and then said : Bring all the vessels used in your worship, and the Scriptures which you read and teach the people, and surrender them to me, before you are forced to do so by tortures. Philip listened unmoved to this harsh command, and then replied, If you take any pleasure in THE TENTH PERSECUTION. 1 23 seeing us suffer, we are prepared for the worst you can do. This infirm body is in your power ; use it as you please. The vessels you demand shall be delivered up, for God is not honored by gold and silver, but by faith -in his name. As to the sacred books, it is neither proper for me to part with them, nor for you to receive them. This answer so much enraged the governor, that he ordered the venerable bishop to be put to the torture. The crowd then ran to the place where the Scriptures and the church plate were kept. They broke down the doors, stole the plate, and burned the books ; after this they wrecked the church. When Philip was taken to the market-place, he was ordered to sacrifice to the Roman gods. In answer to this command, he made a spirited address on the real nature of the Deity ; and said it ap- peared that the heathens worshipped that which might lawfully be trodden under foot, and made gods of such things as Providence had designed for their common use. Philip was then dragged by the mob through the streets, severely scourged, and brought again to the governor ; who charged him with obstinate rashness, in continuing disobedient to the emperor's com- mand. To this he boldly replied, that he thought it wise to prefer heaven to earth, and to obey God rather than man. The governor then sentenced him to be burned, which was done accordingly, and he expired singing praises to God in the midst of the fire. Agricola, and Other Martyrs in Italy. Agricola was a Christian of so amiable a disposition, that he even gained the good will of the heathen among whom he lived. But he was at last seized, and sentenced to die the terrible death by cruci- fixion. This martyr was so much beloved by his friends that they took his body, together with the cross upon which he perished and buried both, with reverent care, in one grave. Vitalis, the servant and convert of Agricola, was seized upon the 124 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. same account as his master, and being put to the torture, died under the hands of his executioners. Timothy, of Mauritania. Timothy, a deacon of Mauritania, in northern Africa, and Maura his wife, had been married but three weeks, when they were separated from each other by the persecution. Timothy was carried before Arri- anus the governor, who did all in his power to induce him to worship the heathen gods. But his efforts being vain, and knowing that Timo- thy had the keeping of the sacred writings used in Christian worship, the governor commanded him to deliver them up, that they might be burned. Timothy answered, " Had I children, I would rather deliver them up to be burned, than the word of God." The governor, much enraged at this reply, ordered the prisoner's eyes to be put out, saying to him, The books shall at least be useless to you, for now you cannot see to read them. Timothy endured this punishment with such patience that the governor grew more furious, and ordered him to be hung up by the feet, with a weight tied about his neck, and a gag in his mouth. This barbarous treatment Timothy bore with the greatest courage. Then some person told the governor that he had been but newly mar- ried to a wife of whom he was very fond. Arrianus accordingly had Maura sent for, and promised her a handsome reward, with the life of her husband, if she would prevail upon him to sacrifice to the idols. Maura, wavering in her faith, tempted by the bribe, and impelled by an unbounded affection for her husband, undertook to persuade him ; and when taken to him, she assailed his constancy with all the mov- ing eloquence of affection. As soon as the gag was taken out of Timothy's mouth, in order to give him an opportunity to speak, instead of consenting to his wife's entreaties, as they expected, he blamed her mistaken love, and declared his resolution of dying for the faith. Maura continued to THE TENTH PERSECUTION. 1 25 beseech him, till, at last, her husband reproached her so bitterly for her weakness that she returned to his way of thinking, and resolved to imitate his courage. Timothy advised her to repair her fault by declaring that resolu- tion to the governor. Being strengthened by his words, and the grace of God, she went to Arrianus, and told him, that she was united to her husband in faith as well as love, and was ready to suffer for her wicked conduct, in trying to make him an apostate. The governor immediately ordered her to be tortured, which was done with great severity. After this Timothy and Maura were cruci- fied side by side. The Emperors Constantius and Galerius. In the year 305, Diocletian and Maximian gave up their imperial crowns and were succeeded by Constantius and Galerius. The former was a man of the most mild and humane disposition ; the latter re- markable for his tyranny and cruelty. The empire was now divided into two equal governments ; Galerius ruling in the East, and Constantius in the West, which included Spain, Gaul, and Britain. The people in the two parts felt the effects of the different dispositions of the emperors ; for those in the West were governed in the mildest manner, while those in the East felt all the miseries of cruelty and oppression. Dreadful Persecutions by Galerius. As Galerius hated the Christians, we are told by ancient writers, that " he not only condemned them to the ordinary tortures, but to be burned in slow fires." A Christian named Amphianus, who lived at Lycia, saw a proclama- tion being read. Approaching nearer, he heard that all persons were commanded to sacrifice to the heathen idols. Pressing through the crowd, he caught the governor, Urbianus, by the hand, and reproached 126 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. him for his superstition. Incensed at this, the governor ordered him to be put to the torture, and then thrown into the sea. Julitta, a lady of rank, was a Christian, and when the edict for sacrificing to idols was published at Iconium, she fled from that city, taking her young son, Cyricus, and two female servants with her. She was, however, seized at the city of Tarsus, and being carried be- fore Alexander, the governor, acknowledged that she was a Chris- tian. For this bold confession of her faith, her little son was taken from her arms and she was put to the rack, and tortured with great severity, which she bore with quiet resignation. The child cried bitterly to get to his mother, and the governor, observing his beauty, was moved by the tears of the infant, so he took him up, and en- deavored to pacify him. Nothing, however, would quiet the child; he still called upon his mother, and at length, in imitation of her confession, lisped out, " I am a Christian." The governor's compas- sion turned into rage upon hearing these hated words, and throwing the child furiously against the pavement, he dashed out his brains. The mother, from the rack, beheld the dreadful deed and was soon afterward slain by having her head cut off with a sword. Death of Pantaleon, the Physician. Pantaleon, a young man who lived at the city of Nicomedia, was instructed by his father in the learning of the pagans, but was taught from the Scriptures by his mother, who was a Christian. Taking up the study of medicine, he became eminent in that profession, and was appointed physician to the emperor Galerius. Pantaleon, in Greek, signifies humane, and the name well suited his nature, for he was one of the most benevolent men of his time. But his extraordinary reputation for skill in the cure of diseases, roused the jealousy of his fellow physicians, who accused him to the emperor. Galerius, on finding him a Christian, ordered him to be tortured and then be- headed, which sentence was carried out. THE TENTH PERSECUTION. 1 27 Two officers in the Roman army, Nicander and Marcian, were seized as Christians. They were both warriors of great skill and cour- age, and the utmost endeavors were made to induce them to renounce Christianity ; but this being without effect, they were sentenced to be beheaded. The execution was attended by vast crowds of people, among whom were the wives of the two sufferers. The wife of Nicander was a Christian, and encouraged her husband to meet his death bravely ; but the wife of Marcian, being a heathen, entreated her husband to save himself, for the sake of his wife and child. Mar- cian, while reproving her for this advice, tenderly embraced her and the infant. Nicander likewise took leave of his wife in the most loving manner, and then both, with great resolution, received the crown of martyrdom. Besides these there were many others slain at this time, whose names are not recorded. A Roman Governor's Mistake. Five Egyptian Christians who had come to Csesarea, were arrested and taken before Firmilian, the governor of Palestine. On question- ing them, he was answered by one who spoke for all, and said they were Christians, and belonged to the glorious city of Jerusalem, meaning the heavenly Jerusalem. The governor was surprised at this answer, for he knew that Vespasian and his son Titus had destroyed the ancient Jerusalem, and nothing but an unimportant town existed on its site. He therefore inquired more particularly about it. The Christian who had spoken before, again replied, pursuing the allegory, and describing with great force of imagination, the beauty, riches, and glory of the place. Firmilian still mistaking his meaning, became much alarmed. Not knowing that a heavenly city was alluded to, he thought the Christians was strengthening and fortifying some place, in order to revolt from their allegiance to the emperor. Acting upon this supposition, and enraged at their supposed disloyalty, he 128 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. condemned the five prisoners to be cruelly tormented, and then be- headed. St. George. George, commonly called St. George, and adopted by England as her patron saint, was born in Cappadocia. His parents were Chris- tians, of high station, and their son received careful religious training. His father dying, his mother went to live in Palestine, her native country, where she had inherited a considerable estate. George, being of an active and adventurous disposition, enlisted as a soldier in the Roman army and soon became known as a brave and skilful warrior. Having gained the favor of the emperor, Diocletian, by some act of gallantry, George was made an officer, and being fre- quently promoted attained high military rank. But when Diocletian began to persecute the Christians, George cast aside all his hopes of fame and fortune, and at once boldly presented himself before the astonished emperor. He declared himself a Christian, refused to carry out the imperial command, and called Heaven to witness that he would take no part in the slaughter of his brethren. Sur- prised and indignant at being thus defied by one whom he had greatly favored, Diocletian instantly ordered his arrest. George was soon after brought to trial and given a last oppor- tunity to yield to the emperor's wishes. Instead of doing so, how- ever, he repeated his refusal to serve in the army if it was to be used as a means of persecuting men of his own faith. This bold avowal caused George to be instantly condemned to torture and death ; he was scourged, cruelly mangled, and at last beheaded. The legend of the dragon, which is associated with this martyr, is usually illustrated by representing St. George seated upon a charging horse and transfixing the monster with his spear. This fiery dragon symbolizes the devil, who was vanquished by St. George's steadfast faith in Christ, which remained unshaken in spite of tor- ture and death. CHAPTER IX. CONSTANTINE, THE FIRST CHRISTIAN EMPEROR OF ROME, A. D. 306. Constantine I., called " the Great," was the first Roman emperor to become a convert to the Christian faith. He was the eldest son of the emperor Constantius, and from his boyhood had been accus- tomed to the life of camps, as he accompanied his father on many campaigns. Constantine was thus trained early to arms, and during his after life, throughout the greater part of his reign, he was en- gaged in warfare with the enemies of Rome, and led her victorious standard to remote parts of the world. Constantine defeated the barbarians of the north in many bloody battles, and built a line of forts on the Rhine, to hold them in check. Constantine was first made emperor of those countries only which lay beyond the Alps, and began his reign at the death of his father. Some years after he had become master of this part of the empire, Maxentius, who ruled over the southern part, including Italy and the city of Rome itself, became jealous of Constantine's growing power and made ready to lead an army against him. Constantine, hearing of these preparations, immediately set out for Rome at the head of his trained veterans, and defeated Maxentius, who was drowned in the Tiber while trying to escape into the capital. His rival having perished, Constantine became master of Italy, and he soon after led his army against Licinius, a general who had made himself ruler over the eastern provinces. This war ended in the defeat of Licinius also, and Constantine thus became sole emperor 9 129 I30 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. of the whole Roman world. He afterward removed the capital from Rome to Byzantium, and dedicated the city, with splendid ceremony, to the Virgin Mary. Christian priests led the procession around the walls, and an imperial edict proclaimed that no pagan temple should be built in New Rome. In after years, the city was called Constantinople in honor of the first Christian emperor. This name it has always since retained, and for a thousand years after the death of Constantine it remained the capital of the Roman empire, until taken by the Turks. It was early in the reign of Constantine, while his throne was in danger from Maxentius, that the celebrated event took place which led to his conversion, and which is known in history as " The Vision of Constantine." The following is the story as it is told by the ancient historian, Eusebius, who also stated that he would have thought it impossible had he not heard it from the emperor's own lips, and been present when he publicly acknowledged it to be true. The Vision of Constantine. The army of Constantine was advancing upon Rome. It was the 27th of October, in the year 312, about three o'clock in the afternoon, when the sun was beginning to lower in the heavens. The emperor was leading his veteran soldiers to a battle against Maxentius, which would either bring him death or establish him undisputed sovereign over the greater part of the known world. Suddenly there appeared a radiant light in the sky, which took the form of a cross, with this inscription plainly written upon it, in Greek, by this sign conquer. Constantine, as well as his soldiers — for the light dazzled the eyes of the whole army — wondered greatly at the strange sight. The officers consulted the heathen soothsayers and wise men to find out what it might mean, and these were inclined to regard it as an omen of disaster and defeat in the coming battle, CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED IN PERSIA. I 3 I The emperor himself, not understanding what this strange sign in the heavens could be, was also much cast down because of it, for he, too, thought it was a sign of coming evil. But that night, while sleeping, he saw another vision. In this the figure of Christ appeared to him, holding the cross, and commanding the emperor to make a royal standard or banner, like that he had- seen in the heavens, and cause it to be continually carried before his army, as an emblem of faith and ensign of victory. Early the next morning, Constantine told his officers what he had seen in the night, and sending for proper workmen, sat down by them and described to them the form of the standard, which he ordered them to make at once of the richest materials and finest workmanship. Accordingly they made a long spear, plated with gold, with a traverse bar at the top, in the form of a cross ; to this was fastened a four-square purple banner, embroidered with gold, and beset w T ith precious stones, which reflected a dazzling lustre. Upon this purple banner there were also pictures of the emperor and his two sons. At the top of the spear-shaft, above the cross, was fixed a crown, overlaid with gold and jewels. Inside of this golden crown was placed the sacred symbol, namely, the two first letters of Christ in Greek, X and P, struck one through the other. This device Constantine afterward bore not only upon his standard, but also upon his coins, many of which are still in existence. PERSECUTION OF THE CHRISTIANS IN PERSIA. In consequence of the gospel having been carried into Persia, the pagan priests of that country, whose livelihood depended upon the continuance of heathen worship, became greatly alarmed. They therefore complained to the king, saying that the Christians were traitors, and were friendly to Persia's greatest enemy, the emperor of Rome. The king, being himself opposed to Christianity, be- 132 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. lieved their accusations, and issued orders for the persecution of the Christians throughout the Persian empire. Martrydom of Simeon and Others. In consequence of this command, Simeon, archbishop of Seleucia, with many other Christians, to the number of 128, were arrested and accused of having betrayed the affairs of Persia to the Romans. The emperor being greatly angered against them, ordered Simeon, with his fellow-prisoners, to be examined as to their faith, and compelled to worship the sun, as the Persians did. As they refused to do this, the emperor sentenced them to be beheaded, which was at once done. Dreadful Tortures by the Persians. The king of Persia then issued an edict that all who confessed themselves Christians should be put to death. This order caused the destruction of multitudes, who were tortured and slain in many horrible ways. A circumstance which at this time increased the hatred against the Christians, was the strange illness of the queen. This was said by some to be caused by poison, and the sisters of Simeon, the archbishop, were accused. After a hasty trial they were adjudged guilty, sentenced to be sawn asunder, and their mangled re- mains were fixed upon poles, between which the sick queen was car- ried by her physicians, as a means of curing her. Acepsimus, a leader among the Christians of Persia, and many other persons were seized, and commanded to worship the sun. Re- fusing to do this, they were scourged, and tormented to death, or kept in prison till they died. Athalas, a missionary, though not put to death, was so cruelly racked that his arms were made useless, and during- the rest of his life he had to be fed like a child. CONSTANTINE APPEALS TO THE KlNG OF PERSIA. When Constantine heard of the persecutions in Persia, he was - ■*'--. TERRIBLE PERSECUTION OP THE CHRISTIANS BY THE KING OP PERSIA. 134 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. much concerned, and began to consider how he could help the Chris- tians. Just at this time an ambassador arrived from the Persian em- peror upon some business of state ; Constantine received him cour- teously, granted his requests, and when he departed sent a letter by him to the Persian monarch asking favor for the Christians. In this he pointed out that misfortune had always overtaken their persecutors in former days, while success and prosperity had attended those who refrained from harming them. Speaking of his victories over rival emperors of his own time, he said, " I subdued these solely by faith in Christ ; for which God was my helper, who gave me victory in battle, and made me triumph over my enemies. He hath likewise so enlarged to me the bounds of the Roman empire, that it extends from the Western Ocean almost to the uttermost parts of the East : for this domain I neither offered sacrifices to the ancient deities, nor made use of charm or divination ; but only offered up prayers to the Almighty God, and followed the cross of Christ. Rejoiced should I be if the throne of Persia found glory also, by embracing the Christians : that so you with me, and they with you, may enjoy all happiness." In consequence of this appeal, the persecution ended for the time, but it was renewed in later years when another king succeeded to the throne of Persia. THE HERESY OF ARIUS, A. d. 319. Up to this time the Christian church had been united in doctrine and belief; its only enemies were from without. The persecutions of heathen nations alone were to be feared, and these, though at times widespread and bloody, had seemed powerless to stop its ad- vance. But with increase in wealth and numbers came dissension. The first open contest over questions of doctrine, within the church itself, was brought about by Arius, who had fallen away from the true BEGINNING OF THE ARIAN HERESY. 1 35 faith in Jesus Christ, and taught the people that Christ was not one and equal with God the Father. This heresy led away great num- bers of the half-converted heathen, who did not like to humble their souls by confessing that Jesus Christ is God. The birthplace and early history of Arius is not certainly known ; he is first heard of as a presbyter, as priests were then called, engaged in a dispute with the bishop of Alexandria. It is recorded that the bishop summoned this unruly presbyter to appear before him, and after hearing his views gave judgment against him. Arius was then expelled from the city, with others of the clergy who upheld him. Great Disturbances Caused by Arius. As Arius had a great many followers, the result of his condem- nation was widespread disorder and commotion among the churches. Bishops argued against bishops, and congregations were greatly ex- cited. The mysteries of the Christian faith became a subject of irreverent controversy among men, women, and children. Even the heathen joined in the profane uproar. This difference of opinion between Christians who believed Arius to be right and those who knew him to be wrong, caused Constantine to call the first great council of the church. It was held at the city of Nicaea, in the year 325, and its decision was against Arius. The creed adopted at this council, which is known as the Nicene creed, was subscribed to by all the members of the council except Arius himself, and two bishops, who for their heresy were excommunicated and banished. This decision did not put an end to Arianism, nor did the death of Arius himself, which took place ten years later. The Arians continued as a distinct religious sect, outside of the church, until about 650 ; finding many believers in Africa, Spain, and France. It then disappeared as a distinct national type of Christianity before the growth of Catholicism. 136 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. Arians Upheld by Constantius. To return to the events following the council of Nicsea : Con- stantius, son and successor of Constantine the Great, when he came to the throne showed some favor to the Arians, and they were em- boldened to raise a persecution against the orthodox bishops and clergy. Athanasius, the most able defender of the Nicene doctrine, and some other bishops, were banished to Gaul, and their places filled with Arians. In Egypt and Libya, some prelates were martyred and many Christian people cruelly abused. George, the Arian bishop of Alex- andria, under the authority of the emperor, began a persecution in that city, which was continued with great severity. Indeed, so fierce was this persecution, that the clergy were driven from Alexandria, their churches were closed, and the cruelties practised by the Arian heretics resembled those of the pagan idolaters of former times. Persecution by the Arians. The orthodox Christians, being deprived of all places of public worship in the city of Alexandria, used to meet in a desert place to escape the mob. Hearing of this, George, the Arian bishop, engaged Sebastian, the general, to fall upon them with his soldiers, on Sunday while they were at prayers ; and many were sacrificed to the fury of the troops, while others suffered more cruel and lingering deaths, being lashed with twigs of palm-trees, with such violence that they expired under the blows or by the mortification of their wounds. Sev- eral of the Christians, whose lives had been spared, were banished to the deserts of Africa. At this time, not satisfied with the cruelties practised upon the Christians in Alexandria, the principal persecutors applied to the emperor for an order to banish them from Egypt and Libya, and to give up their churches to the Arians. This request Constantius granted, and an order was sent to Sebastian, who carried the em- GROWTH OF THE ARIAN HERESY. 1 3 7 pcror's command to all the sub-governors and officers. Hence a great number of the clergy were seized and imprisoned ; and as they all held to the opinions of Athanasius, an order was signed for their banishment into the desert. While the clergy were being thus abused, many of the people who held to their faith in its purity, were condemned to the mines, or compelled to work in the quarries. Some few, indeed, escaped to other countries, and several were weak enough to renounce their faith in order to avoid the severities of this persecution. Violence of the Arians. Growing stronger, the Arians made Gregory of Cappadocia, a man of but moderate abilities, bishop of Alexandria, after having deposed Athanasius. In this they were assisted by Philagerius, the governor of Egypt, an apostate, who permitted them to commit every outrage. Thus encouraged, the mob armed themselves with swords and clubs, and broke into one of the principal churches of Alexandria, where a great many orthodox Christians were assembled ; and falling upon them, without showing any mercy to age or sex, butchered the greater number. Potamo, a venerable bishop of Heraclea, who had formerly lost one of his eyes in Diocletian's persecution, fell a martyr upon this occasion ; being so cruelly scourged and beaten, that he died of his wounds. The Arians also broke into buildings, both public and private, under a pretense of searching for Athanasius, and committed many outrages. It is indeed disheartening to see, in this early age of the church, men calling themselves Christians, many of whom had but lately escaped from the hands of their heathen enemies, persecuting each other with all the violence and ferocity of the pagans under whom they had themselves suffered. But the great principle of religious tol- eration had yet to become known, and many centuries were to pass 13^ THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. away before men should learn the folly of trying to enforce religious belief with the sword — and unnumbered thousands of human lives were to be sacrificed before this great principle should prevail. Successors of Constantine the Great. Constantine the Great left three sons, Constantinus, Constans, and Constantius, among whom he divided his empire. The first two died violent deaths after reigning over their portions for only a few years, and Constantius, the last surviving and most worthless of the brothers, became sole emperor. His reign was also short, and although he called himself a Christian, it was marred by cruelty and oppression. He died while preparing to go to war with Julian, who had estab- lished himself, with the aid of his army, as emperor of Rome. PERSECUTIONS UNDER JULIAN, CALLED THE APOSTATE, A. D. 361. Julian became sole emperor at the death of Constantius. He was the son of Julius Constantius, and the nephew of Constantine the Great. Although educated by his father in the Christian faith, he was at heart a pagan, and no sooner was he seated upon the throne than he made a public avowal of his belief and trust in the ancient gods of the heathen ; therefore he is known to history as Julian the Apostate. Julian again restored idolatrous worship, by opening the temples that had been shut up, rebuilding such as were destroyed, and order- ing the magistrates and people to follow his example ; but he did not make any laws against Christianity. On the contrary, he allowed the free exercise of religion to every sect. Nevertheless, he deprived many Christians of their civil and military offices, and took from the clergy privileges granted them by Constantine the Great. Al- though a heathen, Julian was able, temperate, and brave. These PERSECUTIONS UNDER JULIAN THE APOSTATE. 1 39 very qualities, however, enabled him to exert a greater influence against the spread of Christianity than some of the cruel emperors before him had done by violence and oppression. In Julian's army the symbols of paganism and the imperial standards were artfully mingled, so that soldiers could not pay the customary homage to their emperor without seeming to worship the heathen gods. Also, when the men came forward to make any request, or to offer gifts to their officers, they were required to throw incense on the altar of the heathen gods before being heard. Thus, although the em- peror, in person, entered upon no general and widespread persecu- tion of the Christians, he exerted all his pressure and influence to restore the old faith. After Julian had reigned three years, he crossed the river Tigris, and marched against the king of Persia, but was obliged to go back before encountering him, because of the sufferings of his army from want of water and provisions. While thus retreating, Julian was attacked by the Persians, his forces routed, and himself slain. Although no violent deaths of Christians are recorded as being inflicted by the direct command of Julian during his brief reign, there were, nevertheless, several executions in different parts of the empire ordered by heathen governors and officers. The Story of Basil. Basil lived in Galatia, a country of Asia Minor. His eloquence in preaching the gospel of Christ brought down upon him the anger of the Arian bishop of Constantinople, who issued an order to pre- vent him from preaching. In spite of this Basil continued to preach, until his enemies accused him of being a disturber of the public peace and caused charges to be laid before the emperor. Julian was too busy preparing for his Persian expedition to take notice of the accusa- tion, and Basil's enemies were disappointed in bringing him to trial, so he continued to preach against the idolatry of paganism on the one 140 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. hand, and the errors of Arianism on the other ; earnestly exhorting the people to serve Christ only, in the purity of the faith, One day Basil met a number of men and women going in proces- sion to sacrifice to some heathen god. He boldly chided them for such idolatry, and pointed out to them the folly of such ceremonies. This caused the people to seize him and carry him before Saturninus, the governor, where they accused him of reviling the gods, abusing the emperor, and disturbing the peace of the city. Having heard these accusations, Saturninus questioned Basil, and finding that he was a Christian, he ordered him to be put to the rack, and then sent him to prison, at Ancyra. After a time the emperor chanced to come to Ancyra, and the people welcomed him with loyal greetings. Julian was soon told of Basil's imprisonment, and made up his mind to examine him. The prisoner was therefore brought from his dungeon and the emperor tried to persuade him to give up his faith ; but Basil continued firm, and with prophetic spirit foretold the early death of the emperor, and defeat of his army. Julian, upon hearing this, forgot his usual clem- ency, and told Basil, in great anger, that although he had been at first inclined to pardon him, he now determined to let him remain in prison for the remainder of his life. The prisoner was therefore carried back to his cell. It is told of him, however, that after Julian's death he was released, and continued as long as he lived a fearless upholder of the Christian faith. Severus Denounces the Worship of Venus. Venus, goddess of love, was revered by the Romans as queen of the human heart. Emperors joined in worshipping her, held feasts in her honor, and the ablest of them, Julius Caesar, proudly claimed descent from her, and from Mars, the god of war. The month of April, as the beginning of spring, was held to be the appropriate season in which to celebrate the triumphs of this god- SEVERUS IS SCOURGED FOR REFUSING TO WORSHIP VENUS. 142 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. dess. Her temples were then thronged with worshippers, and mar- ble statues, representing her in all the glory of perfect womanhood, lovely in form and feature, were decked with flowers. It was against this popular idol that Severus, a Christian centurion in the Roman army, dared to raise his voice. Urged to join in a feast to be held in her honor, he not only refused to take any part in the heathen ceremony, but denounced Venus herself as representing all that was sensual and base in the human heart. Enraged to hear their favorite deity thus reviled, the populace seized Severus and dragged him before the magistrate. Upon being questioned the prisoner repeated the words he , had previously spoken, and was at once condemned to be taken before the temple of the goddess he had insulted, stripped, and scourged with the plinnbetce, a whip made of many leathern thongs, each ending in a little ball of lead. This sentence was at once carried out, and Severus was cruelly beaten by two strong men who were chosen to inflict the dreadful punishment. After this had been done in the presence of the angry crowd, he was delivered over to the public executioner, who cut off his head. Donatus, Bishop of Arezzo, and Others. About this time, Donatus, bishop of Arezzo, and Hilarinus, a her- mit, suffered for the faith ; the first being beheaded, and the latter scourged to death. Gordian, a Roman magistrate, having a Chris- tian before him for examination, was so affected by his confession of faith, that he not only discharged the prisoner, but became a Christian himself. This so enraged the Roman prefect, who gov- erned the province, under the emperor, that he ordered the magis- trate to be scourged and beheaded. Two brothers, named John and Paul, of noble family, and hold- ing high offices under the emperor, were accused of being Christians. They were deprived of their positions, and given ten days in which PERSECUTIONS UNDER JULIAN THE APOSTATE. 1 43 to consider whether they would renounce their faith, or suffer mar- tyrdom. Choosing the latter, they were both beheaded. A Schoolmaster Strangely Sentenced. Cassian, a schoolmaster of a town not far from Rome, was arrested for refusing to sacrifice to the idols. The judge, hearing that the pris- oner kept a school for boys, and that many of the scholars disliked their teacher on account of his strictness in keeping them to their studies, thought he could safely entrust the punishment of the pris- oner to the hands of the boys themselves. Cassian was accordingly bound and delivered over to his former scholars, who fell upon him fiercely with their styles (sharp-pointed irons, used as pens in writing upon wax-covered tablets), and stabbed him to death. Theodorus, a Christian, was seized and put to the torture. After being taken from the rack, he was asked how he could so patiently endure such pains ; to which question he made this remarkable reply : " At first I felt some pain, but afterward there appeared to stand by me a young man, who wiped the sweat from my face, and frequently refreshed me with cold water, which so delighted me, that I regretted being let down." Theodorus was afterward released. Christians Fined for Refusing to Sacrifice to Idols. When Julian made ready to fight against the Persians, he fined every one who refused to sacrifice to the idols, and by this means got a great sum from the Christians to help pay the costs of the war. Many of the officers in collecting these fines, exacted more than their due, and some of them tortured the Christians to make them pay what they demanded, at the same time telling them in derision, that when they were injured, they ought to take it patiently, for so their God had commanded them. The Christians of Caesarea were fined an immense sum, and several of the most prominent 144 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. persons among them were obliged to serve in the wars, as a pun- ishment for having overthrown the temples of Jupiter, Fortune, and Apollo. The governor of Phrygia, having cleansed and opened a pagan temple, the Christians in the night broke in, and demolished the idols. Next day the governor ordered the arrest of all persons known to be Christians, that he might make examples of them. By this means he would have taken several innocent persons ; but those who really broke the idols, being too just to see others suffer, vol- untarily delivered themselves up; and were severely scourged. Marcus Stung to Death by Wasps. Marcus, the bishop of Arethusa, a town of Thrace, destroyed a heathen temple and had a Christian church built up in its place. This caused him to be much hated by the heathen, who awaiting an opportunity, seized him while separated from his friends, stripped him of his clothing, and beat him cruelly with sticks. After they had thus revenged themselves upon him, they asked him whether he would rebuild their temple which he had torn down. Marcus not only re- fused to rebuild it, but threatened to have it again destroyed should they restore it themselves. Enraged at this defiant answer, his per- secutors cast about for some way of punishing him, and finally hit upon a plan as cruel as it was singular. They bound Marcus with cords and placed him in a large basket, which they hung in a tree, after first smearing the poor prisoner's body over with honey, to attract the wasps, which were very numerous in that country. After being thus hung up in the tree, Marcus was asked for the last time whether he would restore the temple ; he again refused, and his tormentors left him to perish by the stings of the venomous insects. Death of Julian the Apostate. Julian the Apostate, dying of a wound which he received in bat- MARCUS IS HUNG IN A TREE AND STUNG TO DEATH BY WASPS. I46 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. tie with the Persians, was succeeded by Jovian, who restored peace to the church. After the death of Jovian, Valentinian became em- peror with his brother Valens, who had the command in the East. The latter was a great favorer of Arianism. It is even recorded of him that he once ordered his soldiers to slay all the Christians in the city of Edessa, in Mesopotamia, while they were in the churches. The officers, however, being more merciful than the emperor, gave warning to the Christians not to assemble on the day appointed, so that they might escape death. The Christians thanked the officers for the advice, but resolved to go to church as usual ; accordingly the troops were put in motion to destroy them. As they marched along, a woman, with a child in her arms, ran through the ranks ; seeing this, the officer ordered her be brought before him, and asked her where she was going. She replied, to the church. But have you not heard, said the officer, of the emperor's order, to put to death all who are found there ? I have, said she, and for that cause I make the more haste. And whither, said the officer, do you take that child ? "I take him," replied she, " with me, that he also may be reckoned among the martyrs." Upon this the humane officer returned to the emperor, and telling him that all the Christians were prepared to die in defence of their faith, begged him not to murder so great a multitude. The emperor, therefore, abandoned his cruel design. PERSECUTION OF THE CHRISTIANS BY THE GOTHS. During the reign of Constantine the Great, the light of the gospel penetrated even to the country of the barbarians. In north-eastern Europe, then called Scythia, some of the Goths, who lived in that land, were converted, but most of them continued to be pagans. Fritegern, king of the Western Goths, was a friend of the Romans ; but Athanaric, king of the Eastern Goths, was at war with them. The PERSECUTION OF THE CHRISTIANS BY THE GOTHS. 1 47 Christians in the dominions of Fritegern, lived in peace ; but Athanaric having been defeated by the Romans, revenged himself on his Chris- tian subjects. Sabas, a Christian, was the first to feel the king's anger. Sabas was humble and modest, yet ambitious for the advancement of the church; indeed, the sanctity of his life and the purity of his morals gave the greatest force to his doctrines. Athanaric at last gave orders, that all persons in his dominions should sacrifice to the hea- then gods, and eat the meat which had been offered to the idols, or be put to death for disobedience. Some humane persons among the heathen, who had Christian relatives, endeavored to save them by offering them meat which had not been offered to the idols, while the magistrates were made to believe that all had been done accord- ing to their direction. But Sabas well knew that the sin lay not merely in eating; he knew that giving the enemies of the faith the advantage of seeming to yield to them was what made the action wrong. He, therefore, not only refused to comply, but publicly declared that those who sheltered themselves under that deception were not true Christians. Sabas was soon after seized and carried before a magistrate, who inquired into his fortune and circumstances. Finding that he was poor and of lowly station, he dismissed him as unworthy of notice. Soon after this Sabas went to visit Sansala, a Christian mis- sionary : but on the third night after his arrival they were both seized by a party of soldiers. Sansala was permitted to dress him- self and to ride, but Sabas was obliged to leave his clothes behind him, and to walk. All through the long journey they drove him among thorns and briers, beating him at almost every step. In the evening they stretched him between two beams, fastening his legs to the one and his arms to the other; and in that painful position left him for the night. A woman who pitied his sufferings released him ; but although he was now at liberty, he did not try to escape. I48 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. In the morning the soldiers began to persuade him and his fellow-prisoner to renounce their religion, and eat the meat conse- crated to the idols. They, however, firmly declared that they were ready to suffer the most cruel death rather than comply. Sansala was at length discharged, but Sabas was ordered to be drowned ; which sentence was at once carried out. Nicetas, who was also a Goth, lived near the Danube with his par- ents, and though he had long been a Christian, remained unharmed. One day Athanaric commanded that an idol should be drawn about on a chariot, in all the towns of his dominions inhabited by Chris- tians. Every one was ordered, when the procession stopped at their door, to worship the pretended god. Nicetas firmly refused to come out when the idol passed by, and his house was therefore immediately set on fire, and every person in it perished. How a Heathen Temple was Destroyed. At the town of Apamea, in the country of the Scythians, a Chris- tian missionary preached the gospel and endeavored to put down the worship of idols. He was therefore in great danger from the heathen ; but one day a Roman general, at the head of a large number of sol- diers came to Apamea, and as he was a favorer of the Christians, he determined to help the missionary in his work by ordering his soldiers to destroy the temple of Jupiter, which stood in the centre of the town. The general found, however, that tearing down this temple was a more difficult task than he had supposed. It was built of great blocks of stone, and he feared that if he threw down one part the rest might suddenly fall and crush the workmen. He was therefore about to give up the undertaking, when a poor laborer, who was a Christian, came to him and showed him a way to accomplish the work. He pointed out that it would be better first to weaken the foundations, by digging under the pillars which supported the roof; INVASION OF THE VANDALS. 1 49 after doing this he shored them up with wooden beams. After a number of the pillars had been thus undermined, the wooden beams were set on fire, the pillars came down with a great crash, and the whole building fell with them. After this the missionary and the general destroyed other temples, until, upon going to a place called Aulo, the inhabitants seized the missionary, while the soldiers were absent on an expedition to a neighboring town, and burned him alive. PERSECUTIONS BY THE ARIAN VANDALS, a. d. 429. A barbarous people called Vandals crossed over from Spain to the north coast of Africa, and under their great leader, Genseric, defeated the Roman army and conquered the whole country. As the Vandals were Arians they abused the Christians wherever they found them, laying waste . all the cities they passed through, and inflicting such havoc and ruin upon every object of beauty and value, that the name of Vandal has ever since been a proverb for ruthless destruction. They even burned the fields of grain so that as many of the people as escaped the sword might perish by famine. They plun- dered the churches, and murdered the bishops and ministers in many cruel ways. In particular, they poured rancid and filthy oil and liquids down the throats of some till they were suffocated. Others they mar- tyred by stretching their limbs with cords till the veins and sinews burst. They compelled the chief men among their prisoners to carry their baggage ; and if they did not travel fast enough, they pricked them on with sharp goads, so that several died under their burdens. Old men found no mercy, and even innocent babes felt the rage of their barbarity. Stately buildings were destroyed; and all the principal churches in Carthage were used for their barbarous worship. When a town held out against them, they brought great numbers of Christians and slew them, leaving their bodies under the I50 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. walls, so that the beseiged might be forced to surrender on account of the pestilence. When the Vandals took the city of Carthage, they put the bishop, with many Christians, into a leaky ship, and committed it to the mercy of the waves, thinking that they must all perish; but the vessel arrived safe at another port. Several Christians were beaten, scourged, and banished to the desert, where it pleased God to make them the means of converting many of the Moors to Chris- tianity ; but this coming to the knowledge of Genseric, he sent orders that they and their converts should be tied by the feet to chariots, and dragged till they were dashed to pieces. The Bishop of Urice and Others are Slain. The bishop of Urice was burned ; and the bishop of Habensa was banished, for refusing to deliver up the sacred books. A whole con- gregation which had assembled together in a church, together with the minister who was preaching to them, were murdered by the Vandals, who broke in without warning. Archinimus, a devout Christian, was brought before Genseric him- self for trial. The king finding him firm in his faith, ordered him to be beheaded. He, however, privately said to the executioner, " If the prisoner is courageous, and willing to die, strike not, for I do not in- tend that he shall have the honor of being deemed a martyr." The executioner, finding Archinimus happy in the thought of dying for the sake of Christ, brought him back to prison again; from which he was soon after missing, and never heard of more, being, it was said by some, privately murdered by the king's order. Five Thousand Christians Banished. Eugenius, bishop of Carthage, was eminent for his learning and piety, which brought upon him the hatred of the Arians. They took great pains to stir up the anger of the king against him and INVASION OF THE VANDALS. 15 I others of the orthodox Christians. Consequently, Genseric banished more than five thousand persons to a desert in the south, where many of them perished. He also wrote a letter to Eugenius, in which he commanded that he should send out an order to all the churches in Africa, calling the orthodox bishops to meet at Carthage for the pur- pose of disputing with the Arians. Knowing they would not have a fair hearing, the bishop sent a petition to the king asking that the dispute might not take place, unless representatives from churches in Europe and Asia could be present. But the king paid no heed to this reasonable request; and even banished several of the most learned orthodox prelates before the council took place, so that the Arians might have the advantage. At the appointed time for the council, the orthodox clergy chose ten of their number to act in the name of the rest On the other side Cyrilla, an Arian, took the title of patriarch upon the occasion, and was seated on a magnificent throne. The Arian prelates were allowed to sit near him, but the orthodox bishops were obliged to stand. After much disorder the othodox party was refused all privileges, its churches were shut up, and the revenues confiscated. Then the clergy them- selves were compelled to leave Carthage. Persecution by an Arian Bishop. Cyrilla, the Arian bishop of Carthage, was a great enemy to those Christians who professed the faith in its purity. He persuaded the king that he could never prosper in his undertakings, or enjoy his kingdom in peace, while he permitted so many of his subjects to practise that form of worship. He therefore attempted to draw them from their faith by flattery 7 , and to bribe them by the promise of immediate worldly rewards. But against this temptation they were firm and constant, declaring resolutely against Arianism, and saying, We acknowledge but one Lord, and one faith ; you may therefore do whatever you please with our bodies, for it is better 152 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. that we should suffer a few temporary pains, than endure everlast- ing misery. The governor being greatly angered by this, sent them to prison under sentence of death. The keeper, however, permitted their friends to see them; by which they were more confirmed in their resolution of dying for the true faith. A Ship-load of Christians Burned. When the governor heard of the favor they had received, he was very angry, and sent orders that they should be closely confined, and loaded with fetters. He then began to consider by what means he should put them to death, and at length ordered them to be put on a ship filled with wood and straw. The vessel was then set on fire, and all who were aboard of her were either drowned, or perished in the flames. The names of the chief men among these Christians were Rusticus, Liberatus, Rogatus, Servus, Septimus, and Boniface. CHAPTER X. ROME AXD THE EMPIRE OF THE WEST. a. d. 375-400. Although the Christian church continued to grow in power, under the guidance of able bishops, Rome herself, and the old cities of the empire, began to decline. There was to be seen in them a strange mingling of Christian ceremonial and heathen vice. The peo- ple were so idle and pleasure-loving that scarcely one Roman citizen had any longer the courage to fight in battle ; but as they still had a great deal of money, they hired Goths, Germans, or Gauls — hardy barbarians from the wild countries of the North — to come and fight for them. In Rome little was cared for but feasting and display, or looking on at the games in the Colosseum. The pleasure-loving Romans rushed in thousands to the great circular building to see chariot races, fights of armed gladiators, and combats between men and wild beasts. Christianity had not yet put an end to these cruel pastimes, although they were being continually preached against by the clergy. Much time was also idled away by the Romans at the public baths, which were the places for social meeting and gossip as well as bathing. The soft, steamy air and warm waters of these baths, which were usu- ally placed in beautiful and richly decorated marble buildings, helped to take away from these once brave and warlike people their ancient valor and resolution. The clothing of the Roman ladies was of the most gorgeous description, and the whole manner of life in the city was as wasteful and self-indulgent as it is possible to imagine. Good and religious people tried to escape from the evil life of the capital ; 153 154 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. many of the men became hermits and monks, and went to live in wild and desolate places, far from the licentious crowd. At this time a terrible, wild tribe, called Huns, drove the Goths across the Danube into Roman territory, and while trying to force them back again, Valens, the Roman emperor, was killed. Theodosius, a brave and able general who succeeded Valens, made peace with the Goths, gained great victories over heathen nations in the East, and at last succeeded in uniting the empires of the East and West, and ruled over both as sole emperor. He was a good ruler and a friend to the Christians. He died at Milan, in the fiftieth year of his age, being the last to occupy the throne who really de- served the name of a Roman emperor — though the title was kept up for years by unworthy rulers, under whom Rome suffered all the horrors of defeat and pillage. First Invasion of Alaric the Goth. The two sons of Theodosius succeeded him, and soon after they had taken the throne the Goths rose again, crossed the Danube under their great leader Alaric, and spread over Greece. In religion the Goths were Arians, and called themselves Christians; therefore they destroyed all the statues and temples of the heathen gods, but did no harm to the orthodox Christian churches. Alaric had all the qualities of a great general. To the wild bravery of the Gothic bar- barian he added the courage and skill of the Roman soldier. He led his forces across the Alps into Italy, and although driven back for the time, returned afterward with an irresistible force. The Last Roman "Triumph." After this fortunate victory over the Goths a " triumph," as it was called, was celebrated at Rome. For hundreds of years successful generals had been awarded this great honor on their return from a victorious campaign. Upon such occasions the city was given up THE LAST COMBAT OF GLADIATORS. 1 55 for days to the marching of troops laden with spoils, and who dragged after them prisoners of war, among whom were often captive kings and conquered generals. This was to be the last Roman triumph, for it celebrated the last Roman victory. Although it had been won by Stilicho, the general, it was the boy emperor, Honorius, who took the credit, entering Rome in the car of victory, and driving to the Capitol amid the shouts of the populace. Afterward, as was cus- tomary on such occasions, there were bloody combats in the Colos- seum, where gladiators, armed with swords and spears, fought as furiously as if they were on the field of battle. The Story of Telemachus. The first part of the bloody entertainment was finished ; the bodies of the dead were dragged off with hooks, and the reddened sand covered with a fresh clean layer. After this had been done the gates in the wall of the arena were thrown open, and a number of tall, well-formed men in the prime of youth and strength came for- ward. Some carried swords, others three-pronged spears and nets. They marched once around the walls, and stopping before the em- peror, held up their weapons at arm's length, and with one voice sounded out their greeting, Ave, Ccesar, moritnri te salutant ! " Hail, Caesar, those about to die salute thee !" The combats now began again ; the gladiators with nets tried to entangle those with swords, and when they succeeded mercilessly stabbed their antagonists to death with the three-pronged spear. When a gladiator had wounded his adversary, and had him lying helpless at his feet, he looked up at the eager faces of the spec- tators, and cried out, Hoc habet ! " He has it!" and awaited the pleasure of the audience to kill or spare. If the spectators held out their hands toward him, with thumbs upward, the defeated man was taken away, to recover if possible from his wounds. But if the fatal signal of " thumbs down " was 156 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. given, the conquered was to be slain ; and if he showed any reluc- tance to present his neck for the death-blow, there was a scornful shout from the galleries, Recipe ferrum ! " Receive the steel !" Privileged persons among the audience would even descend into the arena, to better witness the death-agonies of some unusually brave victim, before his corpse was dragged out at the death-gate. The show went on ; many had been slain, and the people, madly excited by the desperate bravery of those who continued to fight, shouted their applause. But suddenly there was an interruption. A rudely clad, robed figure appeared for a moment among the audience, and then boldly leaped down into the arena. He was seen to be a man of rough but imposing presence, bareheaded and with sun-browned face. Without hesitating an instant he advanced upon two gladiators engaged in a life-and-death struggle, and laying his hand upon one of them sternly reproved him for shedding inno- cent blood, and then, turning toward the thousands of angry faces ranged around him, called upon them in a solemn, deep-toned voice which resounded through the great enclosure. These were his words : Do not, said he, requite God's mercy in turning away the swords of your enemies by murdering each other! Angry shouts and cries at once drowned his voice : This is no place for preaching !— ^the old customs of Rome must be observed! — On, gladiators ! Thrusting aside the stranger, the gladiators would have again attacked each other, but the man stood between, holding them apart, and trying in vain to be heard. Sedition ! sedition ! down with him ! was then the cry ; and the gladiators, enraged at the inter- ference of an outsider with their chosen vocation, at once stabbed him to death. Stones, or whatever missiles came to hand, also rained down upon him from the furious people, and thus he perished, in the midst of the arena. His dress showed him to be one of the hermits who vowed them- selves to a holy life of prayer and self-denial, and who were rever- TELEMACHUS SEPARATES THE GLADIATORS AND LOSES HIS OWN LIFE. 158 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. enced by even the thoughtless and combat-loving Romans. The few who knew him told how he had come from the wilds of Asia on a pilgrimage, to visit the churches and keep his Christmas at Rome ; they knew he was a holy man, and that his name was Telemachus — no more. His spirit had been stirred by the sight of thousands flocking to see men slaughter one another, and in his simple-hearted zeal he had tried to convince them of the cruelty and wickedness of their conduct. He had died, but not in vain. His work was accomplished at the moment he was struck down, for the shock of such a death before their eyes turned the hearts of the people : they saw the hideous aspects of the favorite vice to which they had blindly surrendered themselves ; and from the day Telemachus fell dead in the Colosseum, no other fight of gladiators was ever held there. Conquest of Rome by the Goths, a. d. 410. Although the Goths had been driven back for a while, they soon came down from the North in greater numbers than before. And this time there was no Roman general able to oppose Alaric. Stilicho, the former conqueror, had been killed by jealous rivals. Honorius, the young and almost idiotic emperor, fled to the city of Ravenna, and, safe behind its walls and marshes, thought of nothing but feed- ing and caring for a favorite flock of chickens. Alaric encamped outside the walls of Rome, thus cutting off all supplies of food, and calmly waited for starvation to bring the people to terms. When the food was all gone, and after hunger had caused the death of thousands, the citizens sent out a company of the chief men of Rome to the Gothic chieftain, to offer him money to spare the city. But Alaric de- manded such an enormous sum that even the starving Romans were aghast, and refused at first to pay it. They said, " There are yet many of us left, and we can fight." To this idle threat the Goth contemptuously replied, " The closer the grass stands, the quicker it is mown." What will you leave remaining to us, if we consent to DECLINE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. I 59 open the gates ? asked the Romans. " Your lives," was the hard an- swer o{ the stern Goth. At last not a particle of food remained in the once luxurious city, and the people had either to die or yield. They chose the latter and agreed to pay their enemy the ransom he had asked, which was : Five thousand pounds of gold ; thirty thousand pounds of silver ; four thousand silk robes ; three thousand pieces of scarlet cloth ; and three thousand pounds of pepper. Thus Rome for the time escaped the hands of the destroyer ; but it was only for a time. Alaric soon returned and entered the gates with his whole army. He did not wish, however, to utterly ruin and throw down the grand old capital, nor to butcher the inhabitants ; but his soldiers were greedy for plunder, and he gave them permission for six days to despoil the city, but ordered them not to kill the peo- ple nor to injure churches. The wild and furious band could not, how- ever, be entirely controlled, and terrible hardships were suffered by the people of Rome ; but on the whole the damage done to the city was less than might have been expected, and the principal churches were left unharmed. One of the stories of this time which has come down to us is the following : An old woman had been cruelly beaten to make her reveal the hiding-place of her money ; but when at last her tormentors came to believe that she had none, but had spent it all in charity during the hardships of the siege, they repented of having used her so cruelly, and gently led her to the shelter of the church, where, however, she soon died of her injuries. Death of Alaric. After twelve days Alaric left Rome and continued to march south with all his forces, plundering the beautiful country houses of the Roman nobles on the way. At Cosenza, in the extreme south, he fell ill of a fever, and died. At his burial his warriors turned the l6o THE WORTHS CHRISTIAN MARTYRS waters of the river Bionzo aside, dug his grave in the bed of the stream, and turned the river back again to its course, so that no man might know where they had laid the body of the great Goth. One good thing came of the Gothic conquest — the pagans were put down for ever by the Arian conquerors. Their temples were utterly destroyed by the Goths, and the heathen idols broken in pieces. The weak and cowardly emperor, Honorius, remained in his refuge at Ravenna, but the bishop of Rome — or, as the Romans had begun to call him, Papa, father, or Pope — came back and put the churches in order. Constantinople, and the Eastern part of the empire was better off than Italy, being not so exposed to the incursions of barbarians, yet it too was tormented by the Persians on the East, and by the Goths on the North. Owing, however, to brave and able rulers the Eastern empire yet stood, while the West was fast crumbling to pieces. The Invasion of the Huns, a. d. 453. And now a terrible enemy came against Rome. The Huns, a wild and savage people of Asia, came swarming southward, led by their great chief Attila, leaving every country through which they passed streaming with blood and lurid with flames. Attila led his host into Italy and destroyed all the beautiful cities of the North. Advancing to Rome, no soldiers were there to defend it, but the brave pope, Leo I., went out at the head of his clergy to meet the barbarian, and sol- emnly threatened him with the wrath of Heaven if he let loose his cruel followers upon the city. Attila, heathen though he was, felt awed by the majestic presence and solemn warning of the head of the Christian church, and content- ing himself with a heavy ransom, returned to the Danube. Rome Sacked by the Vandals, a. d. 455. Genseric, with his horde of Vandals, fresh from the conquest of the Roman provinces in Africa, was the next assailant of the doomed * ROME PLUNDERED BY THE VANDALS. l6l city. He would take no ransom, but turned his wild followers loose to plunder for themselves. For fourteen days they pillaged Rome, stripping churches and palaces alike, and putting all their booty on ships, to be carried back to Africa. The golden candlestick, and table for shewbread, from the temple at Jerusalem were among the priceless treasures lost through these barbarous and greedy destroyers. No less than sixty thousand cap- tives were also carried away into dreadful bondage. This was the most terrible calamity that Rome, once the queen of cities, had ever suffered from, and a few years later she fell, with the whole empire of the West, and became subject to successive kings or em- perors who were merely the victorious leaders of invading armies of Germans, Goths, or Gauls. This dark age for the great empire which had once ruled the world, lasted over three centuries. But in the year 800, Charles the Great, of France, was chosen emperor according to the old form, and from that time there arose again the Empire of the West. But it was no longer as an imperial city, but as the home and central state of the Christian church, that Rome was again to domi- nate the world. The time was to come when the bishops of Rome, or popes, would direct from the papal palace all the affairs of the church in every part of the world. For centuries they were a power for good, directing with matchless ability noble bands of mission- aries who carried Christianity to every country in the known world. But with increased strength came worldly pomp. They lived like princes, and came at last to claim not only control over the souls and consciences of men, but authority to rule their every act as well. They sought not only to direct the affairs of the church, but they governed the nations of the earth. The popes who came to wield this enormous power were, naturally, no longer holy men, self-denying, poor, and persecuted; but were rich, arrogant nobles. Many of them were cruel, greedy of gain, and lux- 11 1 62 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. urious ; hurling against rebellious sovereigns the awful curse of Rome, and dooming thousands of better men than themselves to the rack or the flames. But it is not yet time to leave the history of the early pagan perse- cution, in the age when heathen foes without and fervent faith within kept the Christian ranks filled with an earnest band of workers. Men and women there were, pure in doctrine and in morals, who were ready — even eager — to endure any hardship, or, if need be, to suffer martyr- dom for the faith they loved. HEATHEN PERSECUTIONS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES, A. d. 500-800. The Story of Julia of Carthage. When the Vandals sacked Carthage, a young woman named Julia was taken prisoner, and after being sold and resold as a slave, she became the property of a Syrian, named Eusebius. Julia's mas- ter frequently took her with him upon his voyages : in one of these they landed upon the island of Corsica, where Eusebius took part in an idolatrous feast, but Julia remained away from it. The heathen complained of her absence as disrespectful to their gods, and told the governor Felix of it, who sent for Eusebius, and demanded of him what young woman it was who had refused to join in wor- shipping their gods. Eusebius replied that the young woman was a Christian, and that all his authority over her could not induce her to renounce her religion ; but in spite of that she was a very diligent and faithful attendant. Felix urged him to compel her to worship the gods, or to part with her ; and offered to give him his own price, or four of his best female slaves in exchange for her; but this offer Eusebius refused. When Felix found he could not persuade him, he determined to get Julia into his power by strategy ; so he invited Eusebius to a supper, and having plied him with wine, sent for the slave in the name of her master. SUFFERINGS OF ANASTASIUS. 1 63 Julia, not suspecting- the danger, immediately obeyed. As soon as she appeared the governor told her that he would purchase her liberty, if she would sacrifice to the heathen gods ; but not being able to prevail, he ordered her to be severely beaten, and finding her still resolute, he commanded that the hair of her head should be pulled out by the roots. This cruel treatment having no effect, he sentenced her to be hanged. Scarcely was Julia dead when Eusebius recovered from his stupor, and hearing what had passed, he, in the first transports of his rage, thought of complaining to the emperor, who would have punished the governor. But after a time he reflected that this would put an end to his trade in that port ; and also, that Felix had only tried to get converts to the gods he himself believed in ; so he determined to put up with the loss, and sailed away. Account of Anastasius. Anastasius, a Persian, was brought up a heathen, and bore arms as a soldier under Chosroes, the king of Persia, at the time that mon- arch plundered Jerusalem. Among the spoils carried away was a cross, said to be the very one upon which Christ was crucified. Anastasius could not understand why the Christians had such ven- eration for one who had died so mean a death as that of crucifixion ; for death on the cross was despised by the Persians. At length some Christian captives instructed him in the faith, and being struck by its truths, he left the army, resolving to follow peaceful employments. After a time he went to Jerusalem, where he carried on the trade of a goldsmith. He was baptized by Modestus, vicar-general of Jeru- salem, and stayed a week with his godfather Elias. When that time was over, and he had changed the white clothes which he wore at his baptism, according to the practice of the church, he begged to be allowed to study for the priesthood. Elias recommended him to Justin, abbot of a seminaiy four miles 164 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. from Jerusalem, who engaged a preceptor to instruct him in the Greek tongue, and teach him the Psalms ; and afterward admitted him into his community. Anastasius passed seven years in that house, dividing his time between humble domestic employments and study of the Scriptures. Going to Caesarea, which was then in the hands of the Persians, Anastasius was arrested as a spy, and brought before Marzabanes, the governor, for trial. He freely admitted that he was a Christian, and was sent to prison. Many attempts were made to bring him back to heathenism, and at length Justin, being told of his suffer- ings, recommended him to the prayers of the whole community, and sent two of his people to encourage him to persevere. The governor at length wrote to the king concerning Anastasius, and the sovereign did all in his power to make him renounce his re- ligion, but finding his efforts of no avail, he ordered him to be tor- tured and slain, which was done in this manner. He was placed upon his back, with a beam across his legs, and this was pressed down with the entire weight of two strong men ; he was then scourged, hung up by one hand, with a heavy stone fastened to his foot; and at last his head was cut off, and sent to the king. The Story of Kilien. The native country of Kilien was Ireland. His parents had been converted by one of the many missionaries from Rome, who travelled to almost every land to tell the people of Christ. After Kilien had reached manhood he became himself a missionary, and crossed the sea, with eleven others, to preach the gospel in Ger- many. When they had come to the country near the mouth of the river Rhine, they found the people heathens, but they received the missionaries kindly, and Kilien journeyed on to Rome to get author- ity from the pope to build churches, and preach to them. The pope, after asking him some questions about his faith and doctrine, conse- KILIEN BECOMES A MISSIONARY. 1 65 crated him bishop, with full permission to establish churches, and to preach to the heathen, wherever he might find them. Kilien at once returned to Germany, where he opened his mission ; but he had not taught the people long, before their king sent for him to ask about this new religion which he preached so boldly. The bishop then put forth all his powers to influence the king, and God gave such a blessing to his efforts that he was converted to the faith, and gave the faithful missionary full authority to preach in all parts of his dominions. The king also commanded the attention of his subjects to Kilien's teaching, and thus encouraged, the greater part of them became Christians. But as the king was unlawfully married to a wife who had another husband, he was rebuked by Kilien, who entreated him, as the last proof of his conversion, to put away that woman whom he called his wife, as to live with her was sinful. The king was much cast down at this request, and said to the bishop that it was the hardest thing he had asked of him. But, said he, since I have given up so many of my own inclinations and pleasures for the love of God, I will make the work complete by doing this also. But the woman who was to be put away was still powerful, and she swore by all her gods that she would be revenged upon the men who sought to bring about her fall. So she sent soldiers who took Kilien and his companions and slew them all, and buried their bodies by night in a lonely place. Some days after, the king being surprised that he had not seen Kilien, ordered diligent search to be made for him. His guilty wife, to stop the inquiry, gave out that he and his companions had left the country without giving any intimation of their intentions. But one of the soldiers, stricken with remorse of con- science, ran about like a madman, and declared that Kilien haunted him. Thus disordered, he was seized, and the king found out what had happened. But in the end his wife won him over, and persuaded him to leave the God of the Christians, and return to his idols. 1 66 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. This the king was weak enough to do, and the murderer was set at liberty. But it is related that the woman was so tortured by re- morse that she soon after expired; and the king's own part in the murder was punished by a violent death. The Story of Boniface, a. d. 685-755. Boniface was a native of Britain, and when quite young had been taught by missionaries from Rome, and thus learned to be a Christian. The gospel was being preached at this time all through the land, and churches were being built. There had been, however, four persecu- tions, but they had been powerless in Britain, as elsewhere, to stop the spread of the gospel. The first was under the Roman emperor Dio- cletian, during which Christians suffered in Britain as they did in all other provinces of the empire. The second was by the Picts, a bar- barous race who butchered all who came in their way. The third was by the Saxons, under Hengist ; and the fourth by the Saxons again, and other German tribes. But when Boniface lived there was no persecution to be dreaded in Britain ; that had all passed away, and religious houses, or monasteries, where Christian priests lived and labored, were starting up all over the land. Not only the gospel of Christ was taught by the good monks, but knowledge of various kinds — reading and writing, grammar, music, and philosophy — were learned by a few of the brighter minds among the ignorant herdsmen and peasants who formed the people of Eng- land at this early time. Among the most promising scholars in the monastery at Exeter was Boniface. Wolfrad, the abbot, finding that Boniface had uncommon genius, sent him to Nutscelle, a seminary of learning in the diocese of Winchester, where he could have better teachers. The abbot of Nutscelle, who was celebrated for his learning, took great pains with the young pupil, who, in time, became a teacher himself. The abbot, seeing that Boniface was well qualified for the priest- THE STORY OF BONIFACE. 1 67 hood, influenced him, when he had reached the age of about thirty years, to take holy orders. From this time Boniface labored to con- vert the heathen and began to show that fearless spirit which after- ward qualified him to carry the gospel of Christ to the most savage and distant parts of the world. Travels of Boniface. After a time Boniface went to Rome, and was received by pope Gregory II. with great favor. The pope gave him permission to preach the gospel to the heathen, wherever he found them. Leaving Rome, Boniface passed through Lombardy and Bavaria, and came to Thurin- gia, which country had before received the gospel, but had, up to the time Boniface arrived there, made little progress. His first mission, therefore, was to bring these people back to the purity of the faith ; and having completed this work, he went to Utrecht, in Holland, to assist Willebrod, the first bishop of that city, who gladly welcomed one who was so earnest and faithful. For three years these two good men labored together in putting down idolatry ; and so far succeeded, that most of the people received baptism, and many of the heathen temples were changed into Chris- tian churches. Boniface now journeyed eastward, to Hesse, in Ger- many, where he brought a knowledge of the truth to two noblemen, who, though they called themselves Christians, yet practised many of the rites of heathenism. They, however, became such true converts that they gave an estate to Boniface, who built a religious house upon it. After this he went to Saxony, where he converted some thou- sands to the Christian faith. Boniface worked in this new field with great success for a year ; he then sent one of his companions to Rome, with an account of what he had done ; upon reading which, Gregory II. sent him a letter, desir- ing him to come to Rome. On his arrival, the pope showed him every mark of esteem and affection, and determined not to let him return to 1 68 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. his missionary labors until he had made him a bishop. He was ac- cordingly consecrated, with the name of Boniface. On being thus qualified for governing his churches, he left Rome, and after making many converts in different places, he returned to his mission in Germany. Here he was very successful, though he met with many that would willingly have been Christians by halves ; they were ready enough to acknowledge Christ, but did not want entirely to let go their heathen customs. In one country people were found who were actually worshipping a large oak tree, which was said by them to be Jupiter himself. This tree Boniface ordered to be cut down. The people, finding that Jupiter did not revenge himself upon those who had destroyed it, owned the weakness of their god and were baptized. Monasteries Erected by Boniface. When Gregory III. succeeded to the papal chair, Boniface sent persons to Rome, to acquaint him with the success of his labors, and to ask assistance in some difficulties which occurred in his mission. The pope not only answered the message by assuring him of the com- munion and friendship of Rome, but granted him the title of arch- bishop, or metropolitan of all Germany, and empowered him to estab- lish new bishoprics. Boniface did so, and also built several monas- teries. He then made a third journey to Rome, and Gregory, who had much affection for him, kept him there the greater part of the year. At length he left Rome, and set out for Bavaria, to reform some abuses introduced by persons who had never received holy orders. Death of Boniface. Now Boniface, having reached his seventieth year, was no longer able to work as he had done, so he chose Lullus, his countryman and faithful friend, to be his successor ; telling him to build a church at Fuld, and see him buried in it, for his end was near. But, longing to go once again on a mission to the heathen, Boniface BISHOP BONIFACE IS SLAIN BY BARBARIANS I70 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. went to the sea coast of Holland, where he converted and baptized many of the natives, destroyed several heathen temples, and raised churches on their ruins. Now, having fixed a day for baptizing a 1 great number of the new converts, he told them to assemble in an open plain near the river Bourde, going there himself the day before, and pitching a tent, intending to remain on the spot all night, so as to be ready in the morning early. But a band of barbarians, having heard of this, poured down upon him and his companions in the night, to kill them. The servants of Boniface would have fought against them, but he told them to put up their weapons, as he wanted to go and speak to the strangers and tell them of his peaceful errand. Boniface, therefore, advanced into the midst of the threatening crowd, but had spoken only a few words to them when they rushed in upon him and murdered him, with fifty-two of his companions. Invasions of the Saracens. In Syria and Arabia lived the Saracens. They were a fierce and warlike people, who not only ruled over these countries, but took pos- session of Palestine also. Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, and all the cities of the Holy Land fell into their hands. The Saracens were fol- lowers of the false prophet, Mohammed. They worshipped him as a god, and hated the Christians. They overran a great part of the East- ern empire, and gained many victories. Among other cities attacked by the Saracens was Armauria, in Armenia. It was bravely defended, and the besiegers would have failed to take it, had not a deserter from within the city itself shown them a secret passage through the walls. In the assault that fol- lowed most of the inhabitants were put to the sword, but two of the officers, and forty of the chief citizens, were carried away pris- oners to Bagdad, where they were loaded with chains, and confined in a dark dungeon. They remained in prison for some months, with- out seeing any person but their jailer, and having scarcely enough food PERSECUTION BY THE SARACENS. \?\ given them to maintain life. At last they were told that unless they renounced Christianity they must all die ; but instead of being alarmed by this threat, and induced to abandon their faith, they denounced the false prophet, and declared that they would remain Christians to the last. This enraged their persecutors, who kept them some time longer in prison, until one of their holidays, when all of the martyrs, forty- two in number, were taken out and beheaded. The Story of Perfectus. Perfectus was a Christian who lived in Corduba, a city of southern Spain. One day, while he was walking in the street, he was approached by two men from Arabia, who were Mahommedans, and who began to talk with him about their respective religions. Perfectus replied to their questions by telling them of the divinity of Christ, the redemption of mankind, and the principles of the Chris- tian faith. The Arabians then asked him what he had to say of Mohammed, and pressed him to freely speak his thoughts. But Perfectus told them that his belief was not theirs, and declined at first to state his opinion. They entreated him, however, to speak his mind, declaring that they would not be offended at anything he should say. Then Perfectus, believing them sincere, and hoping this might be the favorable time for their conversion, told them that the Christians looked on Mohammed as one of the false prophets fore- told in the gospel, who were to seduce and deceive great numbers, to their eternal ruin. To illustrate this, he related some of the actions of that impostor ; endeavored to show them the impious doctrines of his book, the Alcoran ; and begged them earnestly to abandon their miserable state of unbelief, which would certainly be followed by eternal misery. The infidels were much enraged to hear their prophet thus spoken of; they thought proper, however, to disguise their anger, but resolved not to let Perfectus escape. So, waiting for a favorable opportunity, 172 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. they seized him and hurried him away to one of their chief magis- trates, and accused him of blaspheming their great prophet. Upon hearing this the judge ordered him to be put in chains and confined in prison till their yearly fast of Ramadan, during which, for forty days, they fast during the daytime and eat only at night. Perfectus, unmoved, heard the sentence, and calmly prepared for his martyr- dom. At the time appointed he was led to the place of execution, where he again made a confession of his faith, declared Mohammed an impostor, and said that the Alcoran was filled with absurdities and blasphemies. In consequence of this he was ordered to be beheaded, which bloody sentence was at once carried out. His body was buried by the Christians of Corduba. PERSECUTIONS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES, a. d. 1000-1200. Alphage of Canterbury. Alphage, archbishop of Canterbury, came of a family of good estate, living in Gloucestershire, England. His parents were Chris- tians who carefully watched over the education of their children. Alphage showed at an early age that he possessed an unusually bright mind, and made great progress in his favorite studies, which were the holy Scriptures and the history of the church. When Alphage reached manhood he determined to leave his father's house and enter one of the monasteries, or religious houses, in order to devote his whole time to study ; so he went to live in a monastery of Benedictines, at Deerhurst, in Gloucestershire, and soon after took the habit of the order — that is, became a monk. Here he lived quietly for some time, but at length, thinking the rules of this monastery not severe enough, he left it, and took up his abode near the town of Bath. Here his self-denying life soon became the subject of conversation, and many troubled souls came to him and begged him to teach them. ALPHAGE, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 1 73 Gladly consenting to do this, he bent all his energies to the work of founding a monastery for them, which he completed, with the help of his friends, who contributed money for the building. Alphage then formed his new pupils into a community, and placed a prior over them. Having made rules for their daily life, he again retired to his cell, hoping to pass the remainder of his days in quiet. But the bishopric of Winchester becoming vacant by the death of Ethelwold, Dunstan, archbishop of Canterbury, as primate of all England, selected Alphage to fill the place, thus making him bishop of Winchester. Alphage accepted the high office with some reluc- tance, but soon showed himself well able to fill it. Churches flour- ished in his diocese ; unity was established among his clergy and people; and the management of the affairs of the church of Win- chester caused the new bishop to be revered by the whole kingdom. Dunstan greatly admired and loved him, and some years later, when ill and dying, made it his prayer that Alphage might succeed him as archbishop of Canterbury. After a time this came to pass, though not till eighteen years after Dunstan's death. Soon after Alphage had become archbishop of Canterbury he went to Rome, and received high honors from pope John XVIII. The Danes Take Canterbury. After Alphage had governed the see of Canterbury about four years, the Danes made one of their flying attacks upon the country, and king Ethelred, who then reigned, being afraid to face them, allowed them to ravage his kingdom with impunity. During this emergency, the archbishop Alphage acted with great resolution. He went boldly to the Danes, bought the freedom of several of his friends whom they had made captives ; found means to send food to others, whom he had not money enough to redeem, and even converted some of the wild men of the North who threatened them. This so offended those who remained pagans, that they de- 174 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. termined to be revenged on him. The opportunity soon came ; Edric, an English traitor, gave the Danes secret information how they might get within the walls of Canterbury, with little risk to themselves. When the Danes began their march against the city, the richer people who had means to travel fled from it, and would have per- suaded Alphage to follow their example ; but he refused to go with them, " For," said he, " the shepherd must not abandon his flock when the wolves are near." While Alphage was thus nobly standing at his post, and encour- aging his people, Canterbury was taken. The enemy poured into the town, killing all who opposed them and sparing none but the principal citizens whom they thought it worth while to hold for ransom. The monks tried to keep the archbishop in the church, where they hoped he might be safe. But his love for his people made him break from them, and run into the midst of the danger. Calling to the Danes, he begged that the lives of the inhabitants might be saved, and that he alone might be their victim. The barbarians then seized him, tied his hands behind his back, insulted and abused him, and forced him to look on while his church was burned and his people murdered. They then carried the archbishop away with them, and marched to attack other places. After a while the Danes grew tired of watching over their captive, and proposed to him that he purchase his liberty with money. They offered to let him go for a sum equal to #15, OCX); but as Alphage had no way of getting so much money, except by taking it from the treasury of the church, he remained in the hands of his captors. At last they took him to Greenwich, and here he was brought before the Danish chieftain for a final hearing. Death of Alphage. Fearless of his own fate, Alphage boldly stood before the savage band whose swords were still red with the blood of his countrymen, and refused to call upon either church or king for money to save his THE DANES FORCE ALPHAGE TO WITNESS THE BURNING OF HIS CHURCH 176 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. own life. Enraged and disappointed, the Danes dragged him about their camp, picking up beef bones, with which they bruised and gashed him at every step. Alphage bore this dreadful treatment patiently, and even prayed for the conversion of his cruel tormentors. At last one of the Danish soldiers who had been helped, when wounded, by the good archbishop, could not bear to see him suffer; and knowing that in the end his death was certain, smote him on the head with his battle- axe and thus ended his pains. Stanislaus, Bishop of Cracow. This eminent man came of a noble family of Poland. He was an only son and his parents spared no pains in providing him with the best teachers, so that his education might be thorough and com- plete. After pursuing his studies at home for some years he was sent to the university of Paris, at that time the most advanced in- stitution of learning in the world. Stanislaus remained there for sev- eral years, and then returned to his own country, where, on the death of his parents, he fell heir to a large estate. Although now possessing high rank and ample fortune, Stanis- laus adhered to a resolution he had previously formed ; he deter- mined to forego all worldly pursuits and pleasures and to enter the priesthood. Accordingly, after some time spent under the instruction of Lambert Zula, then bishop of Cracow, he was admitted to holy orders. Ten years passed away and found Stanislaus still laboring at his post. His learning and piety had so impressed Bishop Lam- bert, then a very old man, that he selected him as his successor ; but Stanislaus was reluctant to accept the responsibilities of this high office. He was only thirty-six years of age and thought himself too young and inexperienced to undertake the cares of a diocese. Lambert, however, made him his substitute upon various occasions, and at his death, Stanislaus was chosen to fill his place. He there- STANISLAUS, BISHOP OF CRACOW. 1/7 fore accepted the office and devoted himself to the work of the dio- cese and advancement of the church. Now Poland at this time was ruled by a king who had earned the title of " the Cruel," owing to his many acts of violence. While the peo- ple groaned under his oppression, none had the courage to appeal to him to remedy the abuses under which they were suffering. But Stanislaus had the boldness as well as the authority to tell the king of his faults. He appeared before him and upbraided him for his tryanny, and de- manded that injustice and cruelty should cease in Poland. The tyrant was angry at this interference of the church, but being awed by the imposing dignity of the bishop, he concealed his feelings, and even seemed to repent of his deeds ; but soon after he again terrified his subjects by new and barbarous punishments. As before, Stanislaus was the first to protest against these acts of tyranny. He put himself at the head of a number of priests, noblemen, and gentlemen, and sol- emnly charged the king with outrageous cruelty and oppression. But the nobility and clergy soon found that the words of the bishop had no effect upon the king, and entreated Stanislaus not to further rouse the monarch's ferocious temper; they also tried to soften the king's anger against him. But the tyrant had already determined to get rid of a subject who feared him so little as to denounce him to his very face. Hearing that the bishop was alone in the chapel of St. Michael, at a small distance from the town, the king sent some of his soldiers to murder him. The men readily undertook the task ; but when they came into the presence of Stanislaus, the grave dignity and command- ing appearance of the bishop struck them with such awe, that they could not stab him as they had promised. They therefore returned, guiltless of his blood ; but the king, finding they had not obeyed his orders, snatched a dagger from one of them, and ran furiously to the chapel ; there finding Stanislaus at the altar, he plunged the weapon into his heart. 12 CHAPTER XI. BEGINNING OF PERSECUTION BY THE ROMAN CHURCH, A. D. I200. The Christian church had, long before this time, ceased to fear pagan enemies, for it had won in the struggle which had lasted for centuries. The idols were shattered forever throughout Europe, and paganism, except in countries to which the gospel had not yet pene- trated, was a thing of the past. Missionaries willing, nay anxious to lay down their lives for the faith, had been sent out by hundreds from Rome and had carried her cross-emblazoned standard to far distant lands. Germany, Britain, France — countries which at that time seemed barbarous compared with the rich, luxurious capital of the ancient Roman empire, now had their churches, their monasteries, bishops and priests. A revolution had taken place in the minds of men, and nearly all the world, within the boundaries of the ancient empire, looked to Rome as the earthly citadel of their faith, and to the pope as the visible arbiter of Heaven. While this high place given to the church and its ceremonies, its bishops and priests, strengthened its power enormously over its con- verts, and gave it for centuries a beneficial hold upon the minds, the affections, the fears of mankind, it ended by making tyrants of the men — for they were but men — who occupied the papal throne, and who held the highest church offices. The power of the pope and those appointed by him was too great, too absolute for fallible men to wield without becoming worldly, arbitrary, and cruel. No protest, or change from church law or ceremony instituted by them was tolerated for an instant. Differences in mode of worship or belief practised by people 178 THE WALDENSES OE ERANCE. 1 79 who were in the main essentials earnest, believing Christians were put down with a merciless hand. " Heretics " they became as soon as they dared to uphold their own opinions against the all-conquering decrees of Rome, and once adjudged heretics they were considered outside the pale of human pity or justice. These differing sects began to be of enough importance to be men- tioned in history about the year 1000. We cannot tell, however, what were their exact beliefs and opinions, nor what caused them to break off their fellowship with the main body of Christians, as but little reli- able history on the subject has come down to us. It is probable that advancing education and wealth gave these communities leisure and ability to see how worldly and luxurious the lives of the clergy had become, and how entirely they had taken away from the people them- selves the control of public affairs. It is certain they began to cry out for reform in these matters, and zeal, not always accompanied with dis- cretion, brought them often in fierce conflict with the papal forces. Their history, indeed, is written in blood, for most of these early dif- fering sects were utterly stamped out and destroyed by butchery and exile before 1400. Scattered remnants of the Waldenses have, how- ever, under the more modern name of Vaudois, survived to even the present day in the valleys of Piedmont. THE WALDENSES OF FRANCE. Account of their Persecution and Great Slaughter. These people take their name in history from their leader, Peter Waldo, a rich merchant of Lyons, who sold all his goods, gave the money to the poor, and went out to preach the gospel in the way that he believed it should be taught. Waldo soon had many followers, and it is said he made for their use a translation of the New Testament into the French language. He and his preachers travelled from place to place, exhorting the l8o THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. people to lead better lives, and telling them to turn to the Scriptures for knowledge to bring them to salvation, rather than to the priests. Word of what was happening soon came to Rome, and the pope sent out an order forbidding any person to preach without first re- ceiving authority from him. Waldo replied with surprising boldness, " That he would obey God rather than man." For this he was at once excommunicated, or cut off from all communion and fellowship with the Roman church. Waldo, the leader of the sect, having thus become a " heretic," he and his people were considered outlaws, whom it was the duty of the whole body of the Christian church to destroy. But as their num- bers continued to increase in spite of the measures that were taken to annoy them, the pope determined to make greater efforts to put them down. Accordingly he issued a dread assortment of anathemas, canons, and decrees, by which the Waldenses were made incapable of holding any places of trust, honor, or profit under the government ; their lands were seized, their goods confiscated, and even the bodies of those that died were refused burial in consecrated ground. Some of them having crossed the Pyrenees, to find safety in Spain, the pope commanded the king of Arragon to refuse them all shelter and to kill them wherever found. Inquisitors First Appointed. It was the preaching of Waldo and his followers that first brought about the appointment of inquisitors (questioners or examiners) by the Roman church. Finding it difficult to obtain information concerning the religious belief of the people in the affected districts, pope Inno- cent III. made certain monks inquisitors, to find out, and deliver up to the magistrates for conviction and sentence, all persons suspected of heresy. Several learned and eloquent preachers were also sent from Rome to persuade the Waldenses to turn from their belief. Among these was a priest named Dominic, who instituted an order, called the INQUISITORS FIRST APPOINTED. l8l order of Dominican friars; the members of which community have ever since been the principal inquisitors in every country into which that terrible tribunal has been introduced. Their power was unlimited; they proceeded against whom they pleased, without any regard for age, sex, or rank. However infamous the accusers, the charge was listened to, and even unsigned letters were thought sufficient evi- dence to occasion arrest. The dearest friends or relatives could not, without danger, serve any one who was imprisoned on account of religion. To carry to those who were confined a little straw, or to give them a cup of water, was called favoring the heretics. No lawyer dared to plead for even his own brother. The vengeance of this merciless brotherhood pursued its victims beyond the grave, for the very bones of dead Waldenses were dug up and burned. If a man on his death-bed was found to be a fol- lower of Waldo, his estates were taken and the heir defrauded of his inheritance. The Waldenses of Piedmont. For more than two hundred years the Waldenses found a refuge and continued to live in the country of Piedmont, on the eastern slope of the Alps. The lofty, snow-covered peaks of the mountains looked down upon the fertile valleys in which the homes and farms of the Waldenses were placed. Owing to the wild and rugged nature of their country these poor people were able for a long time to live undisturbed ; but they were at last informed against, and secret plans laid for their destruction. A body of troops sent from Rome suddenly appeared in the peace- ful valley of Piedmont ; they burned and plundered the houses of the inhabitants, murdered a great many, and drove the others into the mountains, where most of them perished from the cold, as it was in the depth of winter. Some years later, on the other side of the Alpine range, in Dauphine, now a part of France, a persecution was begun by the archbishop of Ambrune, who employed a monk, named 1 82 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. John Veyleti, to lead the attack. This man went to work so savagely that not only many of the Waldenses, but others as well, were slain ; for if any man, no matter what his belief, expressed pity for the in- offensive people who were being so cruelly treated, he was accused of favoring the heretics, and made to suffer with them. Waldenses Smothered in a Cave. The pope determined at last to take such measures as would crush the Waldenses, and put an end forever to the hated sect which defied the authority of the Roman church. Accordingly he sent Albert de Capitaneis, archdeacon of Cremona, to France ; who interested the king's lieutenant, and succeeded in raising a large body of troops for the purpose of driving the Waldenses out of their valleys. But when the soldiers arrived they found the houses empty and the place de- serted, for the people had heard of their coming and had fled to the mountains, hiding themselves among the rocks and caves. The archdeacon and lieutenant followed them, however, with the troops, and taking many prisoners, they dashed them headlong from the precipices. A good many escaped for a time from the hands of the soldiers, and hid in the darkest recesses of rocky caves, for as they knew the secret passage-ways they were able to conceal them- selves. The archdeacon and lieutenant being, therefore, unable to seize them, they ordered firewood heaped up at the mouths of the caves. When all was ready the piles were lighted, and the people inside were all smothered to death by the smoke and heat. Upon searching the caves after the fires had gone out, more than iooo dead bodies were found, many being those of women and children. Altogether 3000 persons were slain during this attack. After this cruel work, the lieutenant and archdeacon went with the troops to other places in order to attack the Waldenses. But these having heard of the fate of their brethren in the valley, armed themselves ; and by fortifying the different passes, and bravely dis- WALDENSES TAKE REFUGE IN A CAVE AND ARE SMOTHERED TO DEATH 184 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. puting the advance of the soldiers, they inflicted such injuries upon them that the lieutenant was compelled to go back without accom- plishing anything. Waldenses Protected by the King of France. Two soldiers of fortune, named Anthony Fabri and Christopher de Salience, having obtained permission from the pope to plunder the Waldenses, attacked them with a large number of soldiers. They put many of the poor people to death, robbed others of all they pos- sessed, and left hundreds starving and destitute. The king of France had not consented to this, and to him the Wal- denses appealed for justice. In spite of his respect for the pope, the king could not permit his loyal subjects to be slaughtered without any apparent cause. He soon made inquiries, and after hearing the testimony of many witnesses, was satisfied that the people who had been so cruelly persecuted were innocent of any crime. Indeed, the officer he sent to examine into the matter, declared that he wished he himself was as good a Christian as the worst of them. When this favorable report was made to the king, he immediately gave orders that the Waldenses should have their property restored to them. Now, as the archbishop of Ambrune had in his own posses- sion the greater part of the plunder, it was generally supposed he would be the first to return it ; but he would do nothing of the sort. He excused himself by saying the houses and lands had become a part of his bishopric. He, however, with a pretence of generosity, offered to give back some vineyards, provided the soldiers would also return all they had taken. This of course the soldiers refused to do, being as anxious to keep their plunder as the archbishop himself. The Waldenses, finding that they were not likely to recover any of their property, appealed to the king again, and he wrote to the arch- bishop. But that artful and avaricious prelate replied, " That at the CONTINUED PERSECUTION OF THE WALDENSES. 1 85 commencement of the persecution the Waldenses had been excom- municated, so their goods were all forfeited; therefore, until the sen- tence of excommunication was taken off, they could not be restored." This plea was allowed to be reasonable, and application was made to the pope to remove the sentence of excommunication ; but the arch- bishop knowing this would be done, prevented the application from succeeding, and so kept all he had taken. Continued Persecution of the Waldenses. Many of the Waldenses went to live in the northern part of Italy. Before they came to that country it was barren and desolate, but their industry soon caused it to blossom forth into gardens and vineyards. But they were not permitted long to remain undisturbed ; word was carried to Rome of their having settled in this place, and the pope at once commanded that unless they changed their religion they should all be put to death. Accordingly a considerable body of soldiers was soon gathered together ; for in that age there were a great number of professional fighting men who were always ready to take part in any enterprise which afforded them an opportunity to rob and kill defence- less people. Among many other acts of violence the following took place, which well shows the merciless character of the persecution which followed. A band of soldiers was sent to take one of the towns, and began to batter down the frail defences. As there were but sixty poor peas- ants to defend the place, they quickly sent word to the attacking party that they would surrender if allowed to depart in safety with their families to another country. This was promised them ; but the gates were no sooner opened than the captain ordered all the peasants to be cut to pieces ; and after this, most of the women and children were confined in a large barn, which was set on fire, and all perished in the flames. Some of them having taken refuge in a church, the captain or- dered his men to go in and kill them all. This they at first declined 1 86 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. to do, saying, " Soldiers do not kill women and children." But the captain, enraged at their refusal, called them mutineers and compelled them to do the cruel deed under threats of punishment. THE ALBIGENSES. Their Rise and First Persecution. The Albigenses were people who lived in southern France, near the ancient city of Albiga, or, as it is now called, Alby. They begin to be mentioned in history about the year uoo, and one hundred years later had become very numerous. Like the Waldenses, they had changed their form of religious worship from that of the church of Rome, but they differed also from the Waldenses, who were a separate and distinct sect. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to discover the exact creed of the Albigenses and others of these early sects, as they have left no written records telling of their doctrine or belief. It is supposed they held opinions which bore some resemblance to those of Protestants of a later day, inasmuch as they seem to have refused to acknowledge the authority of Roman priests to stand be- tween them and their God. This was the main point in most of the disputes between the so-called heretical sects and the church of Rome. A refusal to acknowledge the priest to be more than human, to doubt his power to absolve sins, and to intervene between man and God at the altar and the confessional, was to strike at the very foundation of the belief which Enabled the Roman church to maintain its tremendous influence over the hearts of men. Any doubt existing upon this point attacked directly the vital principle upon which the vast fabric of the Roman church was raised. All the resources of Rome were therefore exerted to crush the people who dared to deny her supreme powers. A knowledge of this fact is needed to make plain the reason why the church put forth such efforts to destroy seemingly insignificant adversaries. the albigenses are attacked. i<^7 An Army Sent Against the Albigenses. Messengers were accordingly sent throughout the whole of Europe by pope Innocent III. to raise a force of soldiers large enough to ut- terly destroy the Albigenses, for they had increased greatly in num- bers and in wealth. Several powerful nobles had also given them their support, among whom were Raymond, count of Toulouse, the count of Foix, and the count of Bezieres. Promises of pardon for sins of the past, and indulgences to com- mit others in the future were freely offered by the pope, as bribes, to influential men who would take part in the so-called holy war. The pope likewise directed archbishops, bishops and priests to solemnly excommunicate the count of Toulouse. They w r ere, also, empowered to free all his subjects from their oaths of allegiance to him, and to command them to pursue his person, possess his lands, destroy his property, and murder such of his subjects as continued faithful to him. Soon a formidable army, with nobles and bishops at its head, began to march against the Albigenses. The count of Toulouse, having no army able to meet such a force, with any hope of victory, immediately came to surrender himself, with a courage inspired by innocence ; he supposed that the troops would be recalled from plundering his innocent subjects, as he thought him- self a sufficient pledge for their good behavior. The pope's legate, or deputy, told the count that he was very glad he had surrendered ; but he would not countermand the orders to the troops unless the count would consent to deliver up seven of his best fortified castles as securi- ties for his future behavior. On hearing this outrageous demand the count saw too late his error in surrendering, but he was now a helpless prisoner, and could only send an order to give up the castles. The pope's legate had no sooner put soldiers in these places, than he ordered the former gov- ernors to appear before him. When they came, he told them that the count of Toulouse had delivered up his castles to the pope, and as 1 88 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. they were now the pope's subjects, they must obey him only. The governors were greatly astonished to see their lord in chains, and themselves forced to act in a manner so contrary to their wishes. The cruel treatment the count had received afflicted them still more ;. for he was stripped nearly naked, and severely scourged before all the people. Not contented with this, the legate obliged him to swear that he would be obedient to the pope during the rest of his life, conform to the church of Rome, and make war against the Albi- genses ; and even ordered him to join the troops, and help in the siege of Bezieres. But thinking this too hard a trial of his newly pledged faith, the count managed to escape, and went to Rome to complain to the pope of the ill-usage he had received. Dreadful Cruelties at the Taking of Bezieres. The army now besieged Bezieres ; and the governor of that city, thinking it impossible to defend the place, came out, and presenting himself before the legate, implored mercy for the inhabitants. As an additional reason, he said that there were almost as many Romans as Albigenses in the city. The legate replied that all excuses were use- less ; the place must be delivered up without terms, or assault would at once be made. The governor returned into the city and told the people that he could obtain no mercy unless the Albigenses would give up their religion, and conform to the worship of the church of Rome. He begged the Albigenses to do this ; but they answered with one accord that they would not forsake their religion. Said they, " Better to dis- please the pope, who can but kill our bodies, than God, who can cast both body and soul into hell." Upon this the church party sent their bishop to the legate, be- seeching him not to include them in the slaughter of the Albigenses. They also argued that the best means to win these over to the faith was by gentleness, and not by cruelty. The legate, upon hearing this, THE CITY OF BEZIERES TAKEN AND THE PEOPLE SLAIN 190 THE WORLD'S CHRISTIAN MARTYRS. flew into a violent passion with the bishop, and declared that, " If all the city did not acknowledge their fault, they should fall under one curse without distinction of religion, sex, or age." The inhabitants refusing to yield upon such terms, a fierce attack was made, and the place taken by storm, when every cruelty that a ruffian soldiery could invent was inflicted upon the unfortunate in- habitants. Then were to be heard the groans of men who lay wel- tering in their blood, and the wailing of wounded mothers, who saw their children taken from them and mangled before their eyes. The city being fired in various parts, new scenes of horror arose. The flames drove the wretched inhabitants into the streets, which streamed with blood, and those who hid themselves in their houses had only the dreadful choice left them, either to remain and perish in the fire, or rush out and fall by the swords of the soldiers. The cruel legate, during this horrible scene, enjoyed the carnage and even called out to the troops to encourage them in their dreadful work. When asked by an officer how he should distinguish the in- nocent from the guilty, he made the infamous reply, since celebrated in history, " Kill all ; God will know his own." And this they did, for when the slaughter was done, more than 30,000 corpses lay among the ruins of the once beautiful city of Bezieres. Escape and Brave Resistance of the Governor of Bezieres. The count of Bezieres, and a few others, made their escape, and went to a strongly fortified place, Carcasson, which they put into the best condition for defence. The legate at once led his forces against them, thinking that he would have an easy victory and would repeat the cruelties of Bezieres. As soon as the city was surrounded, a furi- ous attack was made, but the besiegers were driven back with great slaughter. The count of Bezieres fought with the foremost of the de- fenders, calling to his soldiers that it was " better to die fighting, than to fall into the hands of such bloody enemies." BASE TREACHERY OF THE LEGATE. \