learne lykewyse by his example, to be feruent and constant in that which they professe. MarginaliaThe ende and martyrdome of Vsthazares.And thus thys blessed Eunuch did consūmate hys martrydō. Of þ^e which hys Martyrdom, Symon hearing being in prison, was very ioyfull, and gaue God thankes. MarginaliaThe martyrdōe of Symeon Archb.Who in the next day folowing, being brought forth before the kyng, and constantly refusyng to condiscende to the kynges request, to worship visible creatures, was lykewyse by the commaundement of the kyng beheaded, with a great number mo, whych the same day also did suffer, to the number, as is sayd, of an hundred and more. All which were put to death before Symeon, he standyng by, and exhorting them, with comfortable wordes: admonishyng thē to stand firme and stedfast in the Lord. MarginaliaThe exhortation of Symeon the Arch. to the martyrs at their death, when he also hymselfe should suffer.Preaching and teaching them concerning death, resurrection, and true pietie, and proued by þ^e scriptures that to be true whiche he had sayd. Declaring moreouer that to be true life in deede, so to dye: and that to be death in deede, to deny or to betray God for feare of punishment. And added further, that there was no man alyue, but nedes must once dye. For so much as to al men is appointed necesarely, here to haue an ende. But those thinges whiche after this life folowe, hereafter to be eternall: which neyther shal come to al men after one sorte. But as the conditiō and trade of lyfe in diuers men doth differ, and is not in all men lyke: so the tyme shall come, when all men in a moment shal render and receaue according to their doinges in this present life immortall rewardes: suche as haue here done wel, of lyfe and glory, such as haue done contrary, of perpetual punishment. As touching therefore our wel doing here, there is no doubt, but of all other our holye actions and vertuous deedes, there is no hyer or greater dede, then if a man here lose his lyfe for his Lord God. With these woordes of comfortable exhortacion, the holy martyrs being prepared, wyllinglye yelded their lyues to death. After whom at last folowed Symeon, wyth two other Priestes or Ministers of hys church, MarginaliaAbedecalaas
Ananias,
Martyrs.Abedecalaas, and Ananias, which also with him were partakers of the same martyrdome.

MarginaliaThe story of Pusices martyr.At the suffering of these aboue mentioned, it happened that Pusices one of the kinges officers, an ouerseer of hys Artificers, was there present: who seing Ananias being an aged old father, somewhat to shake and tremble at the sight of them that suffred: O father (said he) a lytle moment shut thyne eyes, and be strong, and shortly thou shalt se the sight of God. Vpon these words thus spoken, Pusices immediatly was apprehēded, and brought to the king. MarginaliaThe free speach and boldnes of PusicesWho ther confessing himselfe constantly to be a Christian, and for that he was very bold and hardy before the king, in þ^e cause of Christes faith, was extremely and most cruelly handled in the executiō of his martyrdome. MarginaliaThe cruel martyrdom of Pusices.For in the vpper part of his necke they made a hole to thrust in their hand, and pluckt out his toung out of hys mouth, and so was he put to death. MarginaliaThe daughter of Pusices.
Martyr.At which tyme also the daughter of Pusices a godly virgin, by the malicious accusation of the wicked, was apprehended and put to death.

MarginaliaA cruell edicte of Sapores against the christians.The next yeare following, vpon the same day, when the Christians did celebrate the remembraunce of the Lordes passion, which we call good Friday before Easter (as wytnesseth the sayd Zozomenus.) Sapores the kyng directed out a cruel and a sharpe edict throughout all his land, condemning to death all them, who so euer confessed them selues to be Christians. MarginaliaInnumerable martyrs in Persia.By reason wherof an innumerable multitude of Christians, throughe the wycked procuring of the malignant Magicians, suffered the same tyme by the sword, both in Citye and in towne: some being sought for, some offring themselues wyllingly, least they should seeme by their silence to denye Christ. Thus al the Christians that could be found, without pity were slayne, and diuers also of the kynges own court and houshold. Among whom was also Azades an Eunuche, and whom the kyng did entirelye loueand fauour. MarginaliaAzades a noble courtier martyrWhich Azades after that the king vnderstoode to be put to death, being greatly moued wyth the sorow therof, commaunded after that, MarginaliaThe prouision of god to saue the Christians.no Christians to be slayne, but them onelye which were the Doctors and teachers of Christian religion.

MarginaliaTrabula wyth her syster martyrs.
Trabula the syster of Symeon.In the same time it happened that the Quene fell in to a certayne disease: vpon the occasion wherof the cruel Iewes with the wicked Magicians, falsely and maliciously accused Trabula, the sister of Symeō the martyr, a godlye virgine, wyth an other sister also of hers: MarginaliaFalse accusation rashly beleued.that they had wrought priuye charmes to hurt the Quene, for the reuenging of the death of Symeon. This accusation being receaued and beleued: MarginaliaTrabula and her syster sawne in sunderinnocent Trabula with the other were condemned, and with a sawe cut a sunder by the myddle. Whose quarters were the hāged vpon stakes: MarginaliaThe blynd charme of the wicked Quene.the Quene going betwene them, thincking therby to be deliuered of her sicknes. This Trabula was a mayde of a right comely beuty, and very amiable, to whō one of the Magiciās cast great loue, muche desiring and laboring by giftes and rewardes sent into the prison to wyn her to his pleasure: promising that if she would apply to his request, she shoulde be deliuered and set at liberty. MarginaliaExample of maidenly chastitie in Trabula.But she vtterly refusing to cōsent vnto him, or rather rebuking him for his incontinent attempt, did chuse rather to dye, then to betray eyther the religiō of her minde or the virginity of her body. Zozo.

MarginaliaEx ecclesiast. Hist. Sozom. lib. 2. cap. 13Now for somuch as the king had commaunded that no Christians should be put to death, but onely such as were the teachers and leaders of the flocke: the Magicians and Archmagicians, left no diligence vntryed, to set forward the matter. MarginaliaPersecution agaynst the byshops & teachers of the church in Persia.Wherby great affliction and persecution was among the bishops and teachers of the church, which in all places, went to slaughter, especially in the countrey of Diabenor: for that part of Persia aboue all other was most Christian. MarginaliaAcepsimas bishop martyr.Where Acepsimas the Byshop, with a great number of his flocke & clergie were apprehended and taken, vpon the apprehension of whom the Magicians to satisifie the kinges commaundement, dimissed all the reast, onely depriuing them of their liuinges and goods. Onely Acepsimas the Bishop they retayned, with whom one MarginaliaIacobus priest martyr.
Example of true christian charity and singuler pietie.
Iacobus.Iacobus a Minister or priest of his church, was also ioyned: not of any compulsion, but onelye as himselfe so desired and obtayned of those Magis, that he might follow him, and be coupled in the same bondes to serue the aged bishop and to releiue (so much as he might) his calamities, and heale his woundes. For he had bene sore scourged before of the Magiās, after they had apprehēded him, & brought him to woorship the sunne: which thing because hee woulde not do, they cast him into prison againe, wher this Iacobus was wayting vpon him. MarginaliaAithalas deacon.
Azadanes deacon.
Abdiesus deacon.
Martyrs.At the same tyme likewise Aithalas a Priest, or Minister, also Azadanes and Abdiesus Deacons were imprisoned, and miserablye scourged for the testimony of the Lord Iesus. MarginaliaThis Archimagus, or magi (as Xenophon sayth) was an order of religion among the Persians, which had the greatest stroke in the lād next to the king.After this the Archimagus spying his tyme, complayneth to the kyng of them, hauing autoritie and commission geuen hym (vnles they would worship the sunne) to punish them as he pleased. Thys cōmaundement receaued of the kyng, the Maister magus doth declare to them in prison. But they answered agayne playnely, that they would neuer be eyther betrayers of Christe, or woorshippers of the Sunne. Whereupon without mercye they were put to bytter tormentes. MarginaliaThe end & martyrdom of Acepsimas bishopWher Acepsimas strongly persisting in the confession of Christ, endured to death. The other being no lesse rent and wounded with scourges, yet continued marueilously alyue. And because they woulde in no case turne from their constant sentence, wer turned agayne into prison. MarginaliaAithalas lost the vse of both his armes beyng pluckt from the ioyntes of his body.Of whom Aithalas in the tyme of his whypping was so drawne and rackt wyth pullyng, that both hys armes being loosed out of the ioyntes, hāged downe from his bodye: which hee so caryed aboute wythout vse of anye hande to feede himselfe, but as hee