poral punishment of the eternal misery of hell; and declared, in contradiction of the blasphemers, "How should those devour children, with whom it is not allowed even to eat the blood of brute animals ?" And from this time she confessed herself to be a Christian, and was added to the number of the Martyrs.

But, when these tyrannical cruelties were confounded by CHRIST through the patience of the Blessed Martyrs, the Devil imagined other devices, such as confinement in prison, in the darkest and most loathsome dungeon; and stretching their feet in the stocks, even to the fifth hole; and all other such insults, as the under-keepers, when enraged, (and these same men filled with the Evil Spirit,) are accustomed to put upon their prisoners; so that many were suffocated in the prison, those whom the LORD willed thus to escape, showing forth His glory. Some there were who had been bitterly tormented, so that it should have seemed that with all possible care they could scarce have lived, who stayed in prison; deprived indeed of human care, but revived and strengthened by the LORD in body and soul, and exciting and comforting the rest. But the young, and those newly apprehended, whose bodies had suffered no previous mangling, could not endure the pressure of this confinement, but died in prison.

But the blessed Pothinus, who was entrusted with the bishoprick of the Church in Lyons, above ninety years of age, and quite worn out in body, scarce able to breathe from his previous infirmity, but renewed in strength by the readiness of his spirit, in his earnest desire of martyrdom, himself also was dragged to the tribunal; his body worn out with age and disease; but his life being still kept in him, that CHRIST might triumph through it:— who, when brought by the soldiers to the tribunal, all the authorities of the city following him, and all the crowd, as though he had been CHRIST Himself, uttering all sorts of cries against him, bore a good testimony. And when asked by the Governor, who might be the GOD of the Christians? he said, "If thou be worthy, thou shalt know." After this he was dragged about without mercy, and suffered all kinds of buffeting, those who were near him insulting him with their hands and feet, without regard to his age; and those at a distance throwing at him whatever came to hand; and all thinking any one guilty of a great fault and impiety, who should be wanting in insolence towards him.

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Those

For they considered that they should thus avenge their gods. And he was cast, scarce alive, into the prison, and died after two days. Here then there took place a remarkable dispensation of God, and an infinite compassion of JESUS was shown forth; a thing, which had rarely occurred in the brotherhood, but is not unsuited to the wisdom of CHRIST. For those, who denied at their first apprehension, were themselves also confined, and partook of our sufferings. At this time the denial of the faith was of no use to them; for those, who confessed what they were, were imprisoned as Christians, no further charge being brought against them; whereas these were still detained as murderers and impure, suffering double the punishment of the rest. indeed the joy of martyrdom, and the hope of the promises, and the love of CHRIST, and the SPIRIT of the FATHER, comforted; but these, conscience tormented with great vengeance; so that, in passing by, their countenances might be distinguished amongst all the rest. For the one went cheerfully, great glory and grace being mingled in their countenances; so that their very chains hung on them as a noble ornament, as on a bride adorned with robes embroidered and fringed with gold; at the same time smelling so of the sweet odour of CHRIST, that some even appeared to have been anointed with earthly perfumes. But the others went abashed, and dejected, and wretched in their looks, and full of disgrace; and moreover reproached by the very heathen as ignoble and unmanly; bearing indeed the charge of murder, but having lost the honourable, and glorious, and life-giving Name. The rest, seeing these things, were confirmed; and those who were apprehended, confessed, without hesitation, not even taking any thought of the reasonings of the Devil.

To conclude; their martyrdoms were distinguished by various kinds of death. For, having plaited a crown of different colours, and of all kinds of flowers, they offered it to the FATHER. It was needful, it seems, that these noble champions, who had endured a varied conflict, and been greatly victorious, should receive the great and incorruptible crown.

Maturus, and Sanctus, and Blandina, and Attalus, were taken to the beasts in the public place, for a common spectacle to the

inhumanity of the heathen; this day of wild-beast fighting being given on purpose to show forth our Martyrs. And Maturus, and Sanctus, again went through, in the Amphitheatre, every torture, as if they had absolutely suffered nothing before. Rather, as having now in several combats foiled the Adversary, and engaged in the contest for the very crown, they supported again the course of scourging usually inflicted there, and the dragging about by the beasts, and whatever else the mad populace shouted and demanded, on this side and that, to have done to them; and above all, the iron seat, on which their bodies, being scorched, choked them with the smell. But their persecutors did not cease even with this; but were yet more outrageous, wishing to overcome their patience. And even thus they could hear nothing from Sanctus, beyond the words of confession he had been accustomed to use from the first. These then, their life holding out long through a severe conflict, were at last put to death; being by themselves, throughout that day, a spectacle to the world, instead of all the variety of single combats. But Blandina, hung up on a Cross, was placed to be devoured by the beasts that were turned in. She thus visibly hanging in the figure of a Cross, and engaged in earnest prayer, wrought great readiness in those who underwent the conflict; since they saw, in the midst. of their sufferings, even with the outward eye, in their sister, Him who was crucified for them, to persuade those who believe in Him, that every one who hath suffered for the glory of CHRIST, hath for ever communion with the Living GOD. And, none of the beasts having at that time touched her, she was taken down from the cross, and carried up again to the prison, to be kept for another conflict; that, by conquering in yet more encounters, she might bring inexorable condemnation on the crooked Serpent; and, though by nature little, weak, and easily to be despised, yet having put on CHRIST, the great and invincible Champion, she might encourage the brethren; having overpowered the Adversary in many combats, and having won in the contest the incorruptible crown.

Next, Attalus himself, being much called for by the multitude, (for he was a well-known man,) came in prepared for the combat by a good conscience, since he was truly exercised in the Christian discipline, and had always been amongst us a witness of the truth. He was led all round the Amphitheatre, with a tablet

carried before him, on which was written in Latin, "This is Attalus the Christian." And the people being exceedingly enraged against him, the Governor, having understood that he was a Roman, ordered him to be taken back among the rest that were in the prison: concerning whom he sent to Cæsar, and waited for his decision. But the meantime was not idle nor fruitless to them, but through their patience the infinite mercy of CHRIST appeared. For the dead members were enlivened through the living; and the Martyrs showed favour to those who were not martyrs, and there was great joy to the Virgin Mother, the Church, in receiving those again living, whom she had cast away as dead and abortive. For by those good men, the greater number of those, who had denied CHRIST were renewed, and reconceived, and rekindled; and learned to confess; and now, living and full of nerve, were brought before the tribunal;GOD, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but showeth goodness to repentance, granting them of His kindness to be again questioned by the Governor. For, (Cæsar having ordered that these should be executed, but that if any denied, they should be released,) when the public festival here began, which is numerously attended by persons, who come together to it from all nations, he brought the blessed Martyrs to the tribunal for a spectacle, and to make a show of them to the multitudes. Wherefore also he examined them again; and as many as appeared to have had Roman citizenship, he beheaded; but the rest he sent to the beasts. But CHRIST was greatly glorified in those who had denied before, but then confessed, contrary to the expectation of the heathen. For these were even separately examined, as on the idea that they were to be dismissed; but confessing, were added to the number of the Martyrs. But those remained without, who never had any trace of faith, nor a feeling of the bridal garment, nor a sense of the fear of GOD; but by their very manner of life brought scandal on the true way, that is, the sons of perdition. But all the others were united to the Church. And while they were under examination, one Alexander, a Phrygian by birth, and a physician by profession, who had lived many years in the provinces of Gaul, and was known almost by all, for his love to God, and boldness in declaring the word, (for he was not without a share of the Apostolic gift,) standing by the tribunal, and encouraging them by signs in their confession, was

observed by those who stood round the tribunal, to be thus as it were in travail for them 1. But the multitude, being enraged at hearing these confess again, who had before denied, cried out against Alexander, as if he had been the cause of it. And the Governor turning upon him, and asking who he was, he answered, "A Christian;" upon which the other in a rage, condemned him to be given to the beasts. And next day he came in with Attalus. For the Governor, to please the people, gave up Attalus also again to the wild beasts. But they, in the Amphitheatre, having passed through all the instruments of torture, that ever were invented, and endured a most severe conflict, were at last put to death. Alexander without uttering a groan or a syllable, but conversing in his heart with GOD. But Attalus, when he was placed on the iron seat, and scorched, when the vapour went up from his body, said to the crowd, in the Roman tongue; "Behold this is man-eating, which yourselves do; but we neither eat men, nor do any other evil thing." And when asked what name God hath, he answered, "God hath not a name, as a man hath."

And after all these things, on the last remaining day of the combats, Blandina was brought in again, with a boy from Pontus, of about fifteen years old; (who had been also brought in every day to see the tortures of the others;) and were commanded to swear by their idols. And because they remained constant, and set them at nought, the multitude was enraged against them; so that they neither pitied the youth of the boy, nor respected the female; but they put them to all the most dreadful tortures, and made them pass through the whole course of inflictions, demanding of them again and again to swear, (by the heathen gods,) but unable to make them do so. For the youth of Pontus, encouraged by our sister, so that even the heathen saw that she was forwarding and confirming him, having nobly endured all his torments, gave up the ghost. But the blessed Blandina, last of all, like a noble mother, having stirred up her children, and sent them forward victorious to the King; and having herself gone through all the same conflicts with her children, hastened after them, rejoicing and exulting in her departure, as if called to a marriage supper, instead of being thrown to wild beasts. And after the scourging,

1 Gal. iv. 19.