so to preuent death then to sustayne the torments of their malicious enemies. A certayne matron al∣so, renowmed for her vertue and integricie of life, among all them of Antioch, famous for her wealth and substance, her noble lynage, and estimation▪ had brought vp two doughters, that were virgins in the feare of God, which passed all other in brightnesse of bewtye and youthly comlines. These, be∣cause they were greatly spited and enuied, for all that they hidd them selues they were founde out, and when that at length with much adoe they vnderstood of their being among forrayners, they cy∣ted them to appeare with speede at Antioch in their proper persons, and besett the place of their a∣bode with a bande of souldiers compassing them as it were with a nett. This matron seeing her self and her doughters plunged in great peri••••, by no meanes possibly to be auoyded, pondered with her selfe the punishments ensuing, and that which was most greeuous of all, the abusing of their bo∣dies: she admonished in no wise to be suffred, no, not once to sincke into their eares, and sayd further: that if they committed their soules as bondslaues vnto Satan, it were a thinge more intollerable then any death or destruction, yet there remayned one remedie for all, and that sayd she was to flye vnto the Lorde for refuge. After deliberation, with vniforme consent they layde downe what was to be done, they apparelled them selues gorgeously and tooke their iourney towards Antioch. In the middest of the way, when their gard seuered them selues, as about to serue nature, they cast them sel∣ues vnto the floode that slyded thereby and drowned them selues. These heathen Idolaters threwe into the sea•• an other coople of Antiochian virgines, renowmed for all vertues, true sisters, of noble linage, of good life, of tender yeares, of goodly bewtie, of honest mindes, of godly conuersation, of wonderfull disposition, as though the earth could no longer beare them. such were the tragedies at Antioch. In Pontus they suffred horrible punishments to be heard of, whose fingers of both hands were pricked vnder the tender nayles, with sharpe quills: others had hott buyling leade poured on their backes, the most necessary members of their bodyes maymed: others endured shamefull, in∣tollerable, and such torments as may not be tould, in their priuy members, and in the secret bowels of their bodyes, such as these noble and counted lawfull iudges excogitated, for tokens of their sharp witt, and deepe wisedome. Dayly also they founde out newe torments, contending one with an other who could excell in spitefull inuentions and addition•• of torment. this calamitie was extreame and out of measure cruel. And when as thenceforth they dispayred of increasing their mischiefe, and now were wearied with slaughter & gotten their fill of bloodshed, voluntarily they mittigate their rage they practise curtesy, their pleasure (for sooth) is henceforth to punish with death no longer. It is not requisite (say they) that the cities shoulde be stayned with blood, ishuyng out of our owne bowells, that the most noble empire of the Caesars should be blemished & defamed with the title of crueltie, y• emperour him self being wel knowne for clemencie & benignitie, yea rather the gracious goodnes & clemencie of the Emperours highnes is to be stretched forth and enlarged towards all men, that they be no more punished with death. They deemed their crueltie asswaged and the Emperours clemencie to shine in that they commaunded our eyes to be plucked out, and the left legge to be vn∣ioynted▪ such was their clemencie and mitigated crueltie towards vs. Wherefore by reason of this cruell curteste it may not be told what number & infinite multitude of men hauing their right eyes pulled out, and the empty places seared with hott burning yrons, their left legges sawed asunder in the hammes and seared likewise: were condemned to the quarryes and mynes throughout the pro∣uinces, to the digging of mettalls, not for commoditie and profits sake, but for affliction and misery. And besides all this they were ledd forth to sundry kindes of torments which may not be rehearsed, whose valiant actes also can not be described. when the holye Martyrs shined thus throughout the worlde in these their afflictions the beholders wronded at their pacience and noble courage, neyther without cause, for they expressed and shewed forth vnto the worlde speciall and manifest signes of the diuine and vnspeakeable power of our Sauiour, working by them. it were to long yea vnpossible to number them all by their names.