Critical Apparatus for this Page
View an Image of this PageNone
 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Aemilianus

C3 judge in Spain; persecutor of Christians

Aemilianus condemned Fructuosus of Tarragona and his two deacons to be burnt for refusing to worship the Roman gods. 1570, p. 105; 1576, p. 74; 1583, p. 74.

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Augurius and Eulogius

(d. 259); deacons of Tarragona under Fructuosus

Having refused to worship the Roman gods, Bishop Fructuosus was imprisoned with his deacons, Augurius and Eulogius, for six days and then burnt with them. 1570, p. 105; 1576, p. 74; 1583, p. 74.

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Aurelianus Cyrenius

Chief steward of Emperor Gallienus

Aurelianus Cyrenius was mentioned by Gallienus to the bishops. 1570, p. 106; 1576, p. 75; 1583, p. 74.

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Aurelius Victor

(c. 320 - c. 390); author of a history of Rome from Augustus to Julian

He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 105, 122, 139; 1576, pp. 75, 88, 103; 1583, pp. 74, 87, 102.

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Basilla

Legendary virgin martyr; converted to Christianity and refused to marry a pagan

She is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 104-05; 1576, p. 74; 1583, p. 74.

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Claudianus and Bossa

Christian husband and wife imprisoned c. 262; reputed martyrs

Claudianus and Bossa were imprisoned for three years. 1570, p. 104; 1576, p. 74; 1583, p. 74.

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Dionysius of Alexandria (St Dionysius)

(d. 265) [Gams]

Patriarch of Alexandria (247 - 265); church father

Dionysius succeeded Heraclas as head of the school in Alexandria and then as bishop. 1570, p. 87; 1576, p. 61; 1583, p. 60.

Dionysius sent a letter to Fabius of Antioch describing the uprisings against the Christians in Alexandria. 1570, p. 88; 1576, p. 62; 1583, p. 61.

In his letter, Dionysius recounted how a number of the faithful lapsed under torture or through terror. 1570, p. 92; 1576, p. 64; 1583, p. 64.

Dionysius gave an account of his and his followers' rescue from the persecutors. 1570, p. 90; 1576, p. 63; 1583, pp. 62-63.

In a letter to Hierax, a bishop in Egypt, Dionysius described the effects of a plague that had afflicted Alexandria after the death of Decius. 1570, p. 94; 1576, p. 66; 1583, p. 66.

Dionysius refused to sacrifice to the gods and was banished by Aemilianus, prefect of Egypt. 1570, p. 102; 1576, p. 72; 1583, p. 72.

Dionysius outlived Valerian and died an old man. 1570, p. 103; 1576, p. 73; 1583, p. 73.

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Eutropius

(fl. 2nd half C4)

Secretary at Constantinople; pagan historian; compiled Breviarium historiae Romanae

He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 83, 105, 107, 108, 115, 139; 1576, pp. 57, 75, 76, 82, 102; 1583, pp. 57, 74, 75, 76, 82, 101.

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Fructuosus of Tarragona (St Fructuosus)

(d. 259) [Gams]

Bishop of Tarragona; martyr

Having refused to worship the Roman gods, Fructuosus was imprisoned with his deacons for six days and then burnt with them. 1570, p. 105; 1576, p. 74; 1583, p. 74.

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Julius Pomponius Lætus (Giulio Pomponio Leto)

(1425 - 1497) [Catholic Encyclopedia]

Italian humanist; founder of the academy at Rome; imprisoned, tortured on suspicion of heresy, released; continued to teach in Rome

He is mentioned by Foxe as a source: 1570, pp. 86, 94, 105; 1576, pp. 60, 66, 75; 1583, pp. 59, 66, 74.

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Marc' Antonio Sabellico (Coccio)

(1436 - 1506) [Eric Cochrane, Historians and Historiography in the Italian Renaissance (Chicago, 1981) pp. 83-6]

Venetian scholar and historian; curator of San Marco library 1487 Wrote a history of Venice 1485; wrote a history of the world 1504: Rapsodie historiarum enneadum

Sabellico and Platina recorded that Constantine IV decreed that bishops of Rome were to be chosen by the clergy and people, not by the emperor. 1570, p. 5, 1576, p. 4, 1583, p. 4.

He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 62, 86, 105, 112, 133; 1576, p. 38, 60, 75, 80, 97; 1583, p. 38, 59, 74, 80, 96.

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Marinus

C3 soldier in Caesarea; Christian martyr

Marinus was accused by a jealous comrade of being a Christian. Marinus was encouraged to remain staunch by Bishop Theotecnus and was then sentenced to be beheaded. 1570, p. 106; 1576, p. 75; 1583, p. 75.

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Prudentius (Aurelius Prudentius Clemens)

(348 - after 405) [Catholic Encyclopedia]

Spanish Roman Christian poet; lawyer; provincial governor; retired to become an ascetic

He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 56, 86, 101, 104, 124, 126, 129; 1576, pp. 35, 60, 71, 74, 90, 92, 93; 1583, pp. 35, 59, 71, 74, 89, 92.

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Raphael Volaterranus (Raffaele Maffei)

(1451 - 1522) [Catholic Encyclopedia]

b.Volterra; Roman humanist, philosopher, theologian. Established an academy in his house; founded Clarisse monastery, Volterra; wrote an encyclopedia in three parts: geology, anthropology, philology

Volaterran regarded the Donation of Constantine to be a forgery. 1570, p. 144; 1576, p. 106; 1583, p. 105.

He is mentioned by Foxe: 1563, p. 11; 1570, pp. 6, 63, 78, 86, 96, 105, 1329; 1576, pp. 5, 38, 53, 60, 69, 75, 1133; 1583, pp. 5, 38, 53, 59, 69, 74, 1162

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Shapur (Sapor) I

(d. 272)

King of Persia (241 - 272); earlier he shared rulership with his father, Ardashir I; warred against the Roman empire and captured Valerian

Shapur I captured Emperor Valerian in battle and kept him in captivity, humiliating him. 1570, p. 105; 1576, p. 75; 1583, p. 74.

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Trebellius Pollio

One of six reputed authors of Historia Augusta [Arnaldo Momigliano, 'An Unsolved Problem of Historical Forgery: The Scriptores Historiae Augustae', Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, vol. 17, no. 1/2. (1954), pp. 22-46]

He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 105; 1576, p. 75; 1583, p. 74.

 
Person and Place Index   *   Close
Victor and Victorinus

Christians imprisoned c. 262; reputed martyrs

Victor and Victorinus were imprisoned for three years. 1570, p. 104; 1576, p. 74; 1583, p. 74.

97 [74]

The first Booke conteyning the X. first persecutions, of the Primitiue Churche.

had lost indeede. MarginaliaPhilippus Martyr. This Phillippus (sayth the storye) was made afterwarde Bishop of Alexandria, and there suffered Martyrdome. Concerning whose Martyrdome I denye not but it may be true, but that he was byshop of Alexandria, that cannot be admitted, as is before sufficiently prooued, out of Eusebius and other auncient historicians.

[Back to Top]

Lykewyse it is sayd, that Eugenia after the Martyrdome of her father, returning to Rome with Prothus, and Hiacinthus, by occasion of conuertyng Basilla (who shoulde haue bene maried to a Pagane husband, and was then beheaded) to the Christian faith, was assayled wyth sundry kinds of death,MarginaliaBasilla, Eugenia, Martyrs. first being tied to a great stone & cast into Tyber, where she was caried vp from drowning, thē put in the hoate bathes, which were extincted and she preserued: afterward by famishment in prison, where they saye she was fed at the hande of our Sauior, all which Legendary miracles I leaue to the Reader to iudge of them, as shal seeme good vnto him. At last the story sayeth, she was with the sword beheaded, Antonin. Bergom. Ado.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaCorrections in the story aboue touched. Euseb. lib. 7. Cap. 5. Helena Byshop of Tarsus. And because in this prent history mention was made of Helenus whom Antoninus with his fellowes noteth to be the byshop of Hierapolis, here is to be vnderstoode & obserued by the way, þt as Philippus in the foresaide history is falsly saide to be byshop of Alexandria, so lykewise vntrue it is that Helenus was bishop of Hierapolis For by Eusebius it appeareth, Lib. 7. cap. 5. alleadging the words of Dionysius that he was bishop of Tarus in Cilicia, and had there ouersight of that Church from the tyme of our Lorde, 254. to the yeare. 274.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaAnno. 262. Victor, Victorinus, Claudianus, Bossa, Martyrs. The vj. yeare of Valerianus and Galienus we read in the story of Herfordiensis, cited out of Isuardus, of Victor and Victorinus, who lying in prison the space of three yeares with Claudianus and Bossa his wife, are sayd to haue sustayned great tormentes, and Martyrdome, for the testimony and name of Christ. Ex. Iuardo.

[Back to Top]

Aurelius Prudentius in his booke intituled Peristephanon, inferreth mention of Fructuosus Byshop of Tarracona in Spaine, who with his two Deacons Augurius and Eulogius, suffered also MartyrdomeMarginaliaFructuosus Byshop of Tarracona in Spayne, with hys 2. Deacons Augurius, Eulogius, Martyrs. Ex Pruden. Peristeph. being bnrned after syxe daies imprisonment, vnder þe foresaid Emperours in this persecution. The cause of their punishment was for the profession of Christs name. Their Iudge and condemner was Emilianus: Their imprisonment indured sixe dayes. The kinde of death ministred vnto them was fire, wherin they being altogether cast with their armes bound behind them, their bandes (as Prudentius writeth) were dissolued, their hands vntouched with the fire, and their bodies remayning whole. The charge of this Iudge vnto the Byshop was this, that he would worship the Gods, whome the Emperour Galienus worshipped. To whom Fructuosus the byshop aunswering: nay, (sayde he) I worship no dombe God of stockes and blockes, whom Galienus doth worship, but I worship the Lord and maister of Galienus, the Father and creator of all times, and his onely Sonne, sent downe to vs of whose flock I am here the Pastor and shepeherd. At this worde Emilianus aunswering agayne, Nay, (saith he) say not thou art, but say thou wast.And forthwith commaunded them to be committed to the fyre, where (as is sayd) their bandes and manicles being loosed, by the fire, they lifted vp their hands to heauen,MarginaliaFructuosus and hys Deacons strengthned in the fire. praysyng the liuing God, to the great admiration of them that stode by, praying also that the element which seemed to fle from them, might worke his full force vpon them, & spedely dispatche them, which was after their request obtained.MarginaliaThe fauour of God toward hys martirs openly declared. In the meane space as they were in the fire, there was a certayne Souldier in the house of Emilianus, who did see the heauens aboue to open, and these foresayd Martyrs to enter in the same, which souldiour likewise shewed the sight the same time vnto the daughter of Emilianus, the president who beholding the same sight with the souldiour, was a present witnesse of the blessednesse of them, whom her cruell father had condemned.

[Back to Top]

As thys godly Byshop was preparyng to his death (sayth Prudentius) the brethren approching to him, brought him drinke, desiring him with much weeping to receaue and drinke with them, but that he refused to do, requiring thē moreouer to refrayne their teares. With like readines the brethren were diligent about him to pluck of his shoes & hose, as he was addressing himselfe to the fire. But neyther would he suffer any seruaunts helpe in that, wherein he was no lesse willing as able to helpe himself.MarginaliaThe modesty of Fructuosus. And thus this blessed and fruitefull byshop Fructuosus with his twoo Deacons Augurius and Eulogius, beyng brought to the fire, witnessed the constant confession of the name of christ, with the shedding of their bloude. Aurel. Prudentins. Ado. Equilinus.

[Back to Top]

And thus farre continued wicked Valerian, in his ty-ranny against the Saintes of Christ. But as all the Tyrauntes before, and oppressors of the Christians had theyr deserued reward at the iust hand of God, which rendreth to euery man according to his workes: so this cruel Valerian, after he had reigned with his sonne Galienus, þe terme of vj. or vij. yeares, and about two yeares had afflicted the Church of Christ, felt the iust stroke of his hande, whose indignation before he had prouoked,MarginaliaThe notable plague of God agaynst Valerian the persecutor. whereof we haue to witnes Eutropius, Pollio, Sabellicus, Volateranus: For making hys expedition agaynst the Persians, whether by the fraude and treason of some about him, or whether by his owne rashnes, it is doubtfull: But this is certayne, that he fell into the handes of hys enemies, being about the age of lxx. yeares, where he led hys wretehed age in a more wretched captiuitie.MarginaliaGods iust punishment to be noted. In so much that Sapores the king of the Persians vsed him (and well worthy) not for his ryding foole, but for hys riding blocke. For whensouer the king should light vpon hys horse openly in the sight of the people, Valerian Emperour quondam, was brought forth in steede of a blocke, for the king to tread vpon hys backe, in goyng to his horsebacke. And so continued this blockishe butcherly Emperour with shame and sport inough vnto his finall end, as witnesseth Lætus and Aurelius Victor.

[Back to Top]

And albeit Eusebius in a certaine Sermon to the Congregation,MarginaliaEx Euseb. in Sermono ad Conuentum. Sanctorum. Valerian the persecuting Emperour, excoriate of the Persians. declareth a more cruell handling of him, affirming that he was slaine, writing in these wordes: Sed & tu Valeriane, quoniam eandem homicidiorum sæuitatem erga subditos Dei exercuisti, iustum Dei iudicium declarasti, dum captiuus ac vinctus vna cum ipsa purpura ac reliquo imparatorio ornatu abductus, ac tandem a Sapore Persarum Rege excoriari iussus, saleq; conditus, perpetuum infælicitatis tuæ trophæum erexisti. &c. That is and thou Valerian, for so much as thou hast exercised the same crudelitie in murdering the subiects of God, therfore hast proued vnto vs the rightuous iudgement of God, in that thy selfe hast bene bound in chaynes, and caryed away for a captiue slaue, with thy gorgeous purple, and thy imperiall attire, and at length also being commaunded of Sapores king of the Persians to be slayne and poudred with sault, hast set vp vnto al men a perpetuall monument of thine owne wretchednes. &c. Euseb.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaThe punishment of Cod vpon Claudius president to the Emperour. The like seueritie of God his terrible iudgement is also to be noted in Claudius, his Presidēt, and minister of his persecutions. Of which Claudius, Henricus de Erfordia thus writeth, that he was possessed and vexed of the deuill, in such sort, that he byting of his owne tongue in many small peeces, so ended hys life. Erford.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaGalienus plagued for hys persecution. Neither did Galienus the sonne of Valerian, after the captiuitie of hys father, vtterly escape the righteous hand of God. For beside the miserable captiuitie of hys father whom he could not rescue, such portentes straunge, & out of the course of nature, such Earthquakes did happen, also such tumultes, commotions, and rebellions did followe, that Trebellio doth recken vp the number of 30. together which in sundry places all at one time tooke vpon them to be tyrantes and Emperours ouer þe Monarchie of Rome, by the meanes whereof he was not able to succour hys father, though he would. Notwithstanding the sayd Galienus beyng (as is thought) terrified by the exāple of his father, did remoue: at least did moderate the persecutiō stirred vp by the Edictes of Valerian hys father, directing forth hys imperiall Proclamation, the tenor whereof proceedeth after this effect, as is to be sene in Euseb. Lib 7. ca. 13.MarginaliaPeace graūted to the Church. Euseb. lib. 7. Cap. 13. Emperour and Cæsar, Publius Licinius, Galienus, Pius Fortunatus, Augustus, vnto Dionysius, to Pinna, and to Demetrian and to all other the like Bishops. The bountifull benignitie of my gift, I haue willed and commaunded to be proclaymed through the whole worlde, to the intent that such whiche are deteined in banishment for discipline sake, may safely returne home agayne, from whence they came. And for the same cause I haue here sent to you the example of my rescript for you to peruse & to enioy, so that no man so hardy to vexe or molest you. And thys whiche you may now lawfully enioy, hath bene long since by me graunted. And therefore for your more warrant in the same, I haue committed the examplar hereof to the custody of Aurelianus Cyrenius my chiefe Steward, where you may fet the copy to see at your pleasure.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaAn other graunt of Galienus vnto the Christen Byshops. This mandate aboue prefixed did Galienus sent to Dionysius Alexandrinus, and to other Byshops as is premised. An other rescript also the sayd Emperour sent to other Christian Byshops, permitting to them full libertie to receaue agayne their wonted places, where they were wont to associate together, called of them Cæmiteria.

[Back to Top]

By this it may appeare that some peace was then graūted vnder this Galienus, to the Church of Christ:MarginaliaAn. 263. albeit not so, but þt some there were which suffered. Among whome was one Marinus mentioned in Eusebius. Lib. 7MarginaliaMarinus Martyr. Ex Euseb. lib. 7. ca. 15. This Marinus being a warriour and a noble man in Cesarea, stoode

[Back to Top]
for