other. All which as I find them in no ancient records, so I leaue them to their authors and compilers of the Legēds.

We read alsoMarginaliaFaustinus and Iobita. Calocerius. Marryrs.of Faustinus and Iobita, citizens of the Citie of Brixia, which suffered Martyrdome with like grieuous torments. At the sight wherof, one Calocerius seeing their so great pacience, in so great torments, cried out with these wordes: Verè Magnus Deus Christianorum. That is, verily great is the God of the Christians. Which woordes being heard, forthwith he was apprehended, and being brought to the place of their executiō, was made partaker of their Martyrdome. Ex Ant. Equilin.

The history of Nicephorus maketh mention of Anthia a godly woman, who committed her sonne Eleutherius to Anicetus bishop of Rome, to be brought vp in the doctrine of Christian faith, who afterward beyng Bishop in Apulia, was there beheaded with his foresayd mother Anthia, Onomast.MarginaliaElutherius. with hys mother Anthia Martyrs. Ex Nicephoro & ex Onam. Iustus and Pastor brethren and Martyrs.

Iustus also and Pastor two brethren, with like Martyrdome ended their liues in a citie of Spaine called Gomplutum, vnder the said Hadrian the Emperour.

Likewise Symphorissa the wife of Getulus the Martyr, with her vij. children, is said about the same time to suffer:MarginaliaSymphoris. with her 7. Children martyred.who first was much, and oft beaten & scourged, afterward was hanged vp by the haire of her head. At last hauing an huge stone fastened vnto her, was throwne headlong into the riuer, & after that her seuen childrē in like maner, with sundry & diuers kindes of punishment diuersly were martyred by the tirants.

The story of M. Hermannus, and Antoninus, and other, report of Sophia, with her three children also. also of Serapia and Sabina, to suffer vnder the said Emperour, about the yeare of our Lord, 130.MarginaliaSophia with her 3. children Martired.

As concerning Alexander bishop of Rome, with his ij. Deacons, also with Hermes, Quirinus, Saphyra, and Sabina. Some writers, as Bede, and Marianus Scotus recorde that they suffred vnder Traianus. Others againe, as Otto Frisingensis with like mo, report that they suffred in the iiij. yeare of this Emperour Hadrian, but of these Martyrs sufficiently hath bene sayd before.

While Hadrian the Emperour was at Athens, he purposed to visite the countrey of Eleusina, and so did: where he sacrifising to the Gentiles Gods, after the maner of the Grecians, had geuen free leaue & libertie, whosoeuer would to persecute the Christians. Whereupon Quadratus a man of no lesse zeale excellent, as of famous learning, being thē Bishop of Athens,MarginaliaQuadratus Byshop of Athens, offereth an Apology of Christian doctrine.and Disciple of the Apostles, or at least succeding incontinent the age of the Apostles, and following after Publius (who a litle before was martyred for the testimony of Christ) did offer vp and exhibite vnto Hadrian the Emperour, a learned and excellent Apologie in the defence of the Christian Religion. Wherein he declared the Christians without all iust cause or desert, to be so cruelly entreated and persecuted, &c. The like also did Aristides an other no lesse excellēt Philosopher in Athens,MarginaliaAristides a Philosopher of Athens, defēdeth before the Emperour the religion of Christ.who for his singular learning and eloquence being notified to the emperor, and comming to his presence, there made before him an eloquent Oration. Moreouer, did exhibite vnto the said Emperour a memorable Apologie for the christians, so ful of learning and eloquence, that as Hierome sayth, it was a spectacle and admiration to men in his tyme, that loued to see wit and learning. Ouer and besides these, there was also an other named Serenus Granius a man of great nobility,MarginaliaSerenus Granius a defender of Christian Religion. Euseb. lib. 4. Cap. 8.who likewise did write very pithy & graue letters to Hadrian the Emperour, shewing and declaring therein, to be consonant with no right nor reason, for the bloud of innocents so to be geuen to the rage and fury of the people, and so to be condemned for no fault, onely for the name and sect that they followed.

Thus the goodnes of God being mooued with the prayers and constant labour of these so excellent men, so turned the hart of the Emperour, that he beyng better informed concerning the order & profession of the christians, became more fauorable vnto them. And immediatly vpō the same directed his letters to Minutius FundanusMarginaliaThe Emperour writeth for the Christians. (as is partly before mencioned) Proconsul of Asia, willing him frō henceforth to exercise no more such extremitie against the Christians, as to condemne any of them hauing no other crime obiected against them but onely their name. The copy of which his letter, because that Iustine in his Apologie doth alleage it, I thought therefore to expresse the same in his owne wordes as followeth.

I Haue receiued an Epistle writen vnto me from Serennius Granianus, our right worthy and welbeloued, whose office you donow execute.MarginaliaThe letter of Hadrian the Emperour to Fundanus the Proconsull,Therefore I thinke it not good to leaue this matter without further aduisement and circumspection to passe, least our subiects be molested, and malicious sycophants boldned and supported in their euill. Wherefore if the subiects of our prouinces, doe bring forth any accusation before the iudge agaynst the Christians, and can prooue the thing they obiect against them, let them doe the same, and no more, and otherwise for the name onely, not to impeach them, nor to cry out against them. For so, more conuenient it is, that if any man will be an accuser, you to take the accusation quietly, and iudge vpon the same. Therfore, if any shall accuse the Christians, and complaine of them as malefactors, doing contrary to the law, then geue you iudgement according to the qualitie of the crime: But notwithstanding who so euer vpō spite and maliciousnes shal commence or cauil against them, see you correct and punish that man, for his vnordinate and malicious dealing.

Thus by the mercifull prouidence of God, some more quiet and rest was geuen to the Church,MarginaliaRespite from persecution.although Hermannus thinketh these Alcione dayes did not very long continue, but that the Emperour changing his Edict, began to renue agayne persecution against gods people, albeit this soundeth not to be so by the wordes of Melito in his Apologie to Antoninus hereafter ensuing. In the meane tyme this is certain, that in the dayes of this Hadrian, the Iewes rebelled agayne & spoyled the country of Palestina. Against whom the Emperour sent Iulius Seuerus, who ouerthrew in Iurie, 50. castels, and burnt and destroyed 980. villages and Tounes, and slue of the Iewes 50. thousand, so that with famine, sickenes, sword, and fire, Iuda was almost desolate. But at length Hadrian the Emperour, which otherwise was named Ælius, repaired and enlarged the Citie agayn of Hierusalem, which was called after his name Æliopolis, or Ælia Capitolina, the inhabitaunce whereof, he graunted only to the Gentiles, and to the Christians, forbidding the Iewes vtterly not to enter into the Citie.MarginaliaThe second destruction of the Iewes. Hierusalem re-edified & enlarged. Some write that the place where Christ was crucified was taken into the walles. Hierusalem called by a new name. Aeliopolis.

After the death of Hadrian, who died by bleeding at the nose, succeded Antoninus Pius,MarginaliaAntoninus Pius Emperour.about the yeare of our Lord, 140. and raigned 23. yeres. Who for his clemency and modest behauiour, had the name of Pius, and is for the same in histories commended. His saying was, that he had rather saue one Citizen, then destroy a thousand of his aduersaries. At the beginning of his raigne,MarginaliaAnno 140.such was the state of the Church, as Hadrian his predecessour had left it, as in which, although there was no Edict set forth to persecute the Christians: yet the tumultuous rage of the Heathen multitude for the causes aboue specified, did not cease to disquiete and afflict the quiet people of God, imputing and ascribing to the Christians whatsoeuer misfortune happened contrary to their desires. Moreouer, inuentyng agaynst them all false crimes and contumelies wherein to accuse them. By reason whereof, diuers there were in sundry places much molested, and some put to death: albeit, as it is to be supposed, not by the consent of the Emperour, who of nature was so mylde and gentle, that either he raysed vp no persecution agaynst the Christians, or els he soone stayed the same beyng mooued. As well may appeare by his letter sent doune to the countreys of Asia, the tenor whereof here insueth.

MarginaliaThe letter of Antoninus Pius to the commons of Asia.EMperour and Cæsar, Aurelius, Antoninus, Augustus, Armenicus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribune eleuen tymes, Consull thrise, vnto the commons of Asia greeting. I am very certayne, that the Gods haue a care of this, that they which be such, shall be knowen, and not lye hid. For they doe punish them, that will not worship them more then you: which so vexe and trouble them, confirming thereby the opinion which they haue conceaued, and doe conceaue of you, that is, to bee wicked men. For this is their ioy and desire, that when they are accused, rather they couet to dye for their God, then to lyue. Whereby they are Victorers, and doe ouercome you, geuing rather their lyues, then to bee obedient to you, in doyng that which you require of them.MarginaliaA notable argument of the Emperour to proue the good conscience of Christians, and the false conscience of the Heathen.And here it shall not be inconuenient to aduertise you of the Earthquakes, which haue, and doe happen among vs, that when at the sight of them you tremble and are afraide, then conferre your case with them. For they vpon a sure confidence of their God, are bolde and fearelesse, much more then you: who in all the tyme of this your ignoraunce, both doe worship other Gods, and neglect the Religion of immortalitie, and such Christians as worship him, them you doe driue out, and persecute them vnto death. Of these and such like matters, many Presidents of our Prouinces, did write to our father of famous memorie heretofore. To whome he directed his aunswere agayne, willing them in no case to molest the Christians, except they were found in some trespasse preiudiciall against the Empire of Rome.