1583 Edition | Book 1 | Page 121 
CloseChristian priests martyred with Simeon of Seleucia-Ctesiphon under Shapur II
They are mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 136; 1576, p. 99; 1583, p. 98.
ClosePersian bishop; martyr under Shapur II
Ascepsimas, an elderly man, was tortured and died in prison. 1570, p. 136; 1576, p. 99; 1583, p. 98.
ClosePersian Christian priest; suffered under Shapur II
Athalis was whipped and racked until his arms were pulled out of their sockets. 1570, p. 136; 1576, p. 99; 1583, p. 98.
ClosePersian deacons; suffered under Shapur II
Azadanes and Abdiesus were imprisoned and tortured. 1570, p. 136; 1576, p. 99; 1583, p. 98.
ClosePersian eunuch courtier; martyr under Shapur II
Azades had been a favourite of Shapur II, and after his martyrdom the king called an end to the persecution of Christians, except for their leaders. 1570, p. 136; 1576, p. 99; 1583, p. 98.
ClosePersian martyrs under Shapur II
They are mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 137, 1576, p. 99, 1583, p. 98.
ClosePersian bishops; martyrs under Shapur II
They are mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 137; 1576, p. 99; 1583, p. 98.
ClosePersian Christian priest; suffered under Shapur II
Jacobus voluntarily accompanied his bishop when he was tortured and imprisoned and was subjected to the same treatment. 1570, p. 136; 1576, p. 99; 1583, p. 98.
CloseOfficer of Shapur II; martyr
Pusices spoke encouraging words to Ananias, an elderly priest awaiting martyrdom. Pusices was then brought before the king, confessed to being a Christian and was martyred. 1570, p. 136; 1576, p. 99; 1583, p. 98.
CloseVirgin sister of Simeon, bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon; martyr under Shapur II
When the queen became ill, the magicians and Jews accused Trabula and her sister of using a charm to cause the illness. They were sawn in half. 1570, p. 136; 1576, p. 99; 1583, p. 98.
him, whether to intreat him wyth gentlenes, or wyth rygour, at length in this moode commaunded the sayde Vsthazares his old auncient seruaunt, and first Tutor & brynger vp of his youth, to be had away, and to be beheaded:MarginaliaVsthazares the kinges tutor condemned to be beheaded. as he was going to the place of execution, he desired of the executioners, a lyttle to staye, whyle he myght sende a message vnto the king, which was this (sent in by certayne of the kings most trusty Eunuches)MarginaliaThe message of Vsthazares To the king. desiring him that for all the old and faythfull seruyce he had done to his Father, & to him, he would now requite him wt thys one office agayne, to cause to bee cryed openlye by a publike cryer in these wordes followyng:MarginaliaThe cause openly cryed, why Vsthazares was beheaded. that Vsthazares was beheaded not for any trechery or cryme committed against the king or the Realme, but onelye for that hee was a Christyan, and woulde not at the Kinges pleasure denye hys God. And so accordyng to hys requeste it was performed and graunted. For thys cause dyd Vsthazares so much desire the cause of hys death to be publyshed: because that as his shrynking backe from Christ, was a great occasion to manye Christians to doe the lyke: so nowe the same hearing þt Vsthazares dyed for no other cause but only for þe religion of Christ, shoulde learne lykewyse by his example to bee feruente and constaunt in that which they professe. And thus thys blessed Eunuch dyd consummate hys Martyrdome.MarginaliaThe end and martirdome of Vsthazares. Of the which hys Martyrdome, Symeon hearing being in pryson was very ioyfull, and gaue god thanks. Who in the nexte daye followyng, being brought foorth before the Kyng, and constantly refusyng to condescende to the Kynges request, to worshyp visible creatures, was lykewyse by the commaundement of the Kyng beheaded,MarginaliaThe martirdome of Symeon Archb. wyth a great number mo, whithe the same daye also did suffer, to the number as is sayd of an hundreth and more. All whiche were put to death before Symeon, he standing by, and exhortyng them, wyth comfortable wordes:MarginaliaThe exhortatiō of Symeon the Archbishop to the martyrs at their death, when he also hymselfe should suffer. admonishing them to stande fyrme and stedfast in the Lord, Preachyng and teachyng them concernyng death, resurrection, and true pietye, and prooued by the Scryptures þt to be true which he had sayde. Declaryng moreouer that to be true lyfe 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 needes once must dye. For so much as to all men is appoynted necessarelye, here to haue an ende. But those thyngs which after this lyfe followe hereafter, to bee eternall, which neyther shall come to all men after one sorte. But as the condition and trade of lyfe in dyuers men doth dyffer, and is not in all men like: so the tyme shall come, when all men in a moment shall render and receaue accordyng to theyr dooynges in thys present lyfe immortall rewardes: such as haue here done well, of lyfe and glory, such as haue done contrary, of perpetual punishment: As touching therefore our well doyng, here is no doubte but of all other our holy actions and vertuous deedes, there is no hyer or greater deede, then if a man here loose his lyfe, for hys Lord God. Wyth these wordes of comfortable exhortation, the holye Martyrs beyng prepared, willyngly yeelded vp their liues to death. After whom at last followed Symeon, with two other Priestes or Mynisters of his Church,MarginaliaAbedecalaas, Ananias, Martirs. Abedecalaas, and Ananias, which also wyth him were pertakers of the same Martyrdome. At the sufferyng of those aboue mentioned, it happened that Pusices one of the Kynges offycers, and ouerseer of hys Artificers, was there present:MarginaliaThe story of Pusices Martyr. who seeyng Ananias beyng an aged olde Father, somwhat to shake and tremble at the syght of them that suffered: O Father (sayde he) a lyttle moment shut thyne eies, and be strong, and shortly thou shalt see the sight of God. Vpon these words thus being spoken, Pusices immediately was apprehended & brought to the King. MarginaliaThe free speach and boldnes of Pusices.Who there confessing himselfe constantly to be a Chrystian, and for that he was very bould and hardy before the king in the cause of Christs faith, was extremely and most cruelly handled in the execution of his Martyrdome.MarginaliaThe cruell martyrdome of Pusices. For in the vpper part of hys necke they made a hole to thrust in theyr hande, and pluckt out hys tongue out of hys mouth, and so he was put to death. MarginaliaThe daughter of Pusices Martyr.At þe which time also the daughter of Pusices, a godly virgine, by the malicious accusation of the wicked, was apprehended & put to death.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaA cruell edict of Sapores agaynst the Christians.The next yeare followyng, vpon the same day, when the Christians did celebrate the remembraunce of þe Lords passion, which wee call good Frydaye before Easter (as wytnesseth the sayde Zozomenus.) Sapores the king directed out a cruell and sharpe Edict through al his land, condemning to death all them, whosoeuer confessed themselues to be Christians.MarginaliaInnumerable martyrs in Persia. By reason whereof an innumerable multitude of Christians, through the wicked procuring of the malignant Magitians suffered the same tyme by the sworde, both in Citie and in Towne: some beyng sought for, some offeryng themselues willyngly, least theyshoulde seeme by their sylence to deny Christ. Thus al the Christians that could be founde, without pitie were slaine and diuers also of the kinges owne court and housholde. Amonge whome was also Azades an Eunuche, and whome the Kyng did entirely loue and fauour.MarginaliaAzades, a noble courtyer Martyr. Which Asades after that the King vnderstoode to be put to death, beyng greatly mooued with the sorrow thereof commaunded after that, no Christians to bee slayne,MarginaliaThe prouision of God to saue the Christians. but them onely which were the Doctours and teachers of Chrystian Religion.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaTrabula with her sister, martyrs. Trabula the sister of Symeon.In the same tyme it happened that the Queene fell into a certaine disease: vpon the occasion whereof the cruell Iewes with the wicked Magicians, falsely and malicyously accused Trabula, the sister of Symeon, the Martyr, a godly Virgine, with an other sister also of hers: that they had wrought pryuie charmes to hurt the Queene, for the reuenging of the death of Symeon.MarginaliaFalse accusation rashly beleued. Trabula, and her sister sawne in sunder. The blinde charme of the wicked Queene. This accusation beyng receaued and beleeued: innocent Trabula, with the other were condemned, and with a sawe cut in sunder by the middle. Whose quarters were then hanged vpon stakes: the Queene goyng betweene them, thinking thereby to be deliuered of her sickenes. This Trabula, was a mayde of a ryght comelye beauty, and verye amiable, to whome one of the Magicians cast great loue, much desiring and labouryng by gyftes and rewardes sent into the pryson to wynne her to hys pleasure: promising that if she woulde applye to hys request shee shoulde bee deliuered and set at lybertye. MarginaliaExample of maydenly chastitie. in Trabula.But she vtterly refusing to consente vnto hym, or rather rebukyng him for his incontinent attempt: dyd chuse rather to dye, then to betray eyther the Religion of her minde, or the virginitie of her body. Zozom.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaEx ecclesiast. Hist. Zozom. lib. 2. cap. 13. Persecution agaynst the Bishops and teachers of the church in Persia.Now forsomuch as the king had cōmaunded that no Christians should be put to death, but onely such as were the teachers and leaders of the flocke: the Magicians and Archmagitians, left no diligence vntried, to set forward the matter. Whereby great affliction and persecutions was among the Byshops and teachers of the Church, which in all places, went to slaunghter, especially in the country of Diabenor; for that part of Persia aboue al other was most Christian. MarginaliaAscepismas byshop Martyr. Iacobus Prick Martyr. Example of true Christian charitie and singuler piety in Iacobus.Where Acepsimas þe Byshop with a great number of his flocke and clergy, were apprehended and taken: vpon the apprehension of whō the Magicians to satisfie þe kings commaundement, dismissed al the rest, onely depriuing them of their liuing and goods. Onely Acepsimas the bishop they retayned, with whom one Iacobus a Minister or priest of his church was also ioined: not of any compulsion, but onely as himselfe so desired and obtained of those Magicians, þt he might folow him, & be coupled in þe same bonds to serue the aged byshop, and to relieue (so much as he might) his calamities, and heale his woundes. For he had bene sore scourged before of the Magians, after they had apprehended him, and brought him to worshippe the sunne, which thing because he would not do, they cast him into prison againe, where this Iacobus was waiting vpō him. MarginaliaAthales Deacon, Azadanes Deacon, Abdiesus Deacon, Martyrs.At the same time likewise Athalis a Priest or Minister, also Azadanes and Abdiesus Deacons were imprysoned, and miserably scourged for the testimony of the Lorde Iesus. After this the ArchimagusMarginaliaThis Archimagus, and magi (as Xenophon. sayth) was an order of religion among the Persians, which had the greatest stroke in the land next to the king. espying his time, complaineth to the king of them, hauing authoritie and commission giuen him (vnles they would worship the sunne) to punish them as he pleased. This commaundement receyued of the king, the master Magus doth declare to thē in prison. But they aunswered againe plainely, that they would neuer be either betraiers of Christ, or worshippers of the sunne. wherupon without mercy they were put to bitter torments. MarginaliaThe end and martirdome of Acepsimas Byshop.Where Acepsimas strongly persisting in the confession of christ, endureth to death. The other being no lesse rent & wounded with scourges, yet cōtinued meruailously aliue. And because they woulde in no case turne from their constant sentence, were turned againe into prison. MarginaliaAthalas lost the vse of both hys armes beyng pluckt from the ioyntes of his body.Of whome Athalas in the time of his whipping was so drawne & rackt with pulling, that both his armes being loosed out of the ioynts, hanged downe from his body: which he so caried about without vse of any hande to feede himselfe, but as he was fed of other.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaEx Sozo. li. 2. cap. 13. ex Nicepho. Lib. 8. cap. 37. Barbarismes. Paulus, Gaddiabes, Sabinus, Mareas, Mocius, Iohannes, Hormisdas, Paps, Iacobus, Maures, Agas, Bochres, Abdas. Abdiesus, Ioannes, Abramus Agdelas, Sabores, Isaac, Dausus, Bico, Maureanda. with 250. other martirs.Miserable and almost innumerable were the slaughters vnder the raigne of this Sapores, of Byshops, Ministers, Deacons, religious men holy virgins, and other ecclesiasticall persons such as did then cleaue to the doctrine of Christ and suffered for the same. The names or the bishops besides the other multitude taken in that persecution, is recited in Sozom. lib. 2. and in Niceph. lib. 8 cap. 37. in this order following, Barbasymes, Paulus, Gaddiabes, Sabinus, Mareas, Mocius, Iohannes, Hormisdas, Papas, Iacobus, Romas, Maares, Agas, Bochres, Abdas, Abiesus, Ioannes, Abramius, Agdelas, Sabores, Isaac, Dausas Bicor. also with Maureanda his fellow bishop, and the rest of his Churches vnder hym,
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