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CAP. XXXVIII.* 1.1
Of the persecution vnder Decius, the martyrdome of many Bishops, and how that Origen was persecuted.
AFter that Philip had bene Emperour seuen yeares, Decius succeeded him, who because of* 1.2 his offence & grudg towardes Philip, raysed persecution agaynst the Church, in the which persecution, Fabianus Bishop of Rome was martyred, whome Cornelius did succeede. In Palaestina Alexander Bishop of Ierusalem, when he had the seconde time endured confession for Christ his sake (before the tribunall seate of the President of Caesarea) is cast into prison, where after a notable and famous testimony of his true fayth geuen before the iudgement seate of the Lieuetenant, he ended his mortall life. After whome Mazabanes was chosen Bishop of Ierusalē. And Babylas likewise Bishop of Antioch, (euen as Alexander Bishop of Ierusalem) after he had rendred an accompt of his fayth, died in prison, whome Fabius succeeded. but what thinges & how great they were which happened to Origen in that persecution: and how he dyed: the spiteful de∣uill deadly pursuing him with his whole troope, striuing against him with all might, and euery kinde of sleight that possibly coulde be inuented: & specially against him aboue all the rest which then were persecuted to death: and what and how great thinges he sustayned for the doctrine of Christ: imprisonments and torments of body, scurging at yron stakes, stinch of close prison: and how that for the space of many dayes his feete lay stretched foure spaces a sunder in the stockes: and how that constantly he endured the threats of fire, and all that the enemy coulde terrifie him with: and how that he ended after that the iudge had wrought all meanes possible to saue his life: and what languages he gaue very profitable for such as neede consolation: sundry of his epistles truely, faithfully and curiously penned, doe declare.