CAP. I.
Of the persecution vnder the Emperour Seuerus.
WHen as Seuerus persecuted the churche of God, there were noble martyrdomes of* 1.1 suche as suffered for the profession of the true faith▪ but speciallye at Alexandria, whither chosen champions out of Aegypt, and all Thebais, as vnto a moste notable Theatre of God, were brought, and after a moste pacient sufferance of simdry tor∣mentes, and diuerse kindes of deathe, were crowned of God with garlandes of im∣mortalltie. Of this number was Leonides called the father of Origen, and there beheaded, who left* 1.2 his sonne very yonge, and of tender yeares. howe also he was disposed, and affected towardes Christian religion from that tyme forth, it shall not be at this tyme vnseasonably written. Speci∣ally for that he is famous and renowned throughout the whole worlde. Some man will saye it is no small peece of worke to printe in paper the lyfe of this man, and that it will require a whole* 1.3 volume to it selfe: but at this present cutting of many things, vsing as muche breuitie as may be, we will runne ouer certaine thinges which concerne him, selected out of their epistles and histo∣ries, which were his familiars, whereof some lyued in our tyme, and reported certaine things of him. To be short we will declare suche things as shall seeme worthye of memorie, and that were done from his cradell vnto this tyme. Seuerus then had ended tenne yeares, Laetus then gouerned Alexandria, and the rest of Aegypte▪ Demetrius lately after Iulianus had taken vpon him the ouer∣sight of the congregations there.