The auncient ecclesiasticall histories of the first six hundred yeares after Christ, wrytten in the Greeke tongue by three learned historiographers, Eusebius, Socrates, and Euagrius. Eusebius Pamphilus Bishop of Cæsarea in Palæstina vvrote 10 bookes. Socrates Scholasticus of Constantinople vvrote 7 bookes. Euagrius Scholasticus of Antioch vvrote 6 bookes. VVhereunto is annexed Dorotheus Bishop of Tyrus, of the liues of the prophetes, apostles and 70 disciples. All which authors are faithfully translated out of the Greeke tongue by Meredith Hanmer, Maister of Arte and student in diuinitie. Last of all herein is contayned a profitable chronographie collected by the sayd translator, the title whereof is to be seene in the ende of this volume, with a copious index of the principall matters throughout all the histories

CAP. XXIX.

Of 12. Martyrs that suffred together in one day with Pamphilus, and of the mar∣tyrdome of Adrianus and Eubulus.

TIme now draweth me away to paynt forth vnto the posteritie that noble and glorious thea∣tre of Martyrs which suffred together with Pamphilus, whose name I doe alwayes honour and reuerence. They were twelue in number, and thought worthy not only of y^• Prophetical, or rather the Apostolike gift, but also the number of the Apostles whose captayne and principall* 1.1 was Pamphilus▪ minister of the Churche of Caesarea: a man very famous, for sundry his vertues throughout the whole race of his life: singuler, in despising and contemning this present worlde: bountifull, for liberalitie bestowed vpon the poore: wonderfull, in neglecting the care fixed vpon transitory thinges: excelling, in behauiour and Philosophicall trade of liuing: moreouer passing all the men of our age, for feruent zeale and earnest desire and study of holy Scripture: maruelous constant in all his doings and enterprises, and also very ready to ayde and helpe such as were of his

kinne and familiar acquaintance. other his vertues and well doinges, because it required a longer treatise, we haue lately and that largely published in a seuerall and peculier volume entitled of his life, and deuided into three bookes. Therefore such as are desirous to learne more exactly and more exquisetly to knowe his vertuous life, we referre thither, and presently we minde onely to prosecute such thinges as concerne the Martyrs which suffred persecution together with him. The seconde af∣ter Pamphilus that came forth to wrastle was the reuerent whore headed Valens, Deacon of the city* 1.2 Aelia, a graue father in euery mans eye and greatly skilled in holy Scripture, if then there was any such in the worlde, he was so expert therein, that if he hearde any percell thereof by any man allead∣ged, forthwith was he able by rote to repeate it, as well as if then he read it out of the booke. The thirde was Paulus, a man wonderfull zealous and feruent in the spirite, borne in the citye Iamnia,* 1.3 where he grewe to greate fame, before martyrdome he endured the scorching and searing of his fleshe with hott yrons, and passed through a worthy combatt at the confession of his fayth, the mar∣tyrdome of these was differred by reason of their continewance in prison two whole dayes. In the meane while came the brethren of Aegypt which suffered martyrdome together with them. these Ae∣gyptians when they had accompanied the confessors of Cilicia, vnto the place appoynted for the digging of mettals, returned home againe. in their returne, they were taken of the watch which kept the gates of Caesarea (which were barbarous and rude groomes) and examined who they were, and whence they came. when they could not conceale the trueth, they were layde in holde as if they had bene haynous trespassers, and had committed some horrible crime. In number they were fiue, which* 1.4 were brought before the tyrant, and after their examination, clapt in prison. The thirde daye being the sixtenth of the moneth Peritius after the Romaynes, about the fouretenth of the Calendes of March, these together with Pamphilus and the rest of his companions (mentioned a litle before) by commaundement were brought before the iudg. This iudge first of all trieth with sundry and mani∣fold torments, with new and straung deuises, the inuincible constancy, and valiant minde of the Ae∣gyptians. And with all he demaunded of the chiefe, & principal in this combat, what his name was, then, when as in steede of his proper name, he had named himselfe vnto him, after some Prophet or other (for this was their maner, in steede of the Idolatrous names which their parents had geuen them, to chose them newe names, they called them selues after the name of Elias, Ieremias, Esay, Samuel and Daniel, and expressed not onely in worde but in workes them selues, the very true God of Israel, hidd from the Iewes, according vnto the proper etymologie of their names) Firmi∣lianus, hearing such an appellation of the Martyr weyed not at all the sense and signification of the worde, but secondarily asketh of him what contreyman he was, he satisfying the interrogatorie geueth a fl••t name vnto the former aunswere, that his contrey was Ierusalem, meaning in very deede the selfe same wherof Paul spake: that Ierusalem vvhich is aboue is free, vvhich is the mo∣ther* 1.5 of vs all. agayne in an other place: ye are come vnto the mount Sion, and to the citye of the liuing God, the celestiall Ierusalem, for it was this that the Martyr vnderstoode. Firmilianus be∣ing earthly minded enquireth earnestly and curiously where this city was, in what contrey it lay, and with all tormented him greeuously to the ende he shoulde confesse the trueth▪ this Martyr ha∣uing his handes wrested, and tyed behinde him, his feete with certayne newe and straunge kinde of engines stretched asunder, auoutched constantly that he had told him the trueth. Afterwards when the iudge demaunded of him againe, what he was, and where that city was situated, made answere: that it was a contrey which onely belonged vnto the godly: that none other shoulde be partaker thereof, saue the godly alone: and that it was situate eastward where the sunne in the morning spreddeth abroad the bright beames of his light. In vttering these wordes he entred into so diuine a cogitation within him selfe, that he forgot the tormentors which layd him on, on euery side, and seemed to perceaue no sense or feeling of the payne and punishment, as if he had bene a ghost with∣out fleshe, bloode or bone. The iudge casting doubts with him selfe, and greatly disquieted in minde, thought the Christians would bring to passe, that the city mentioned by the Martyr, should rebell and become enemy vnto the Romaynes: he began to search and diligently to inquire, where that region (by report eastward) should be▪ last of all when he sawe this yong man after bitter and greeuous torments, with immutable constancy to perseuere stedfast in his former saying: he gaue sentence that his head should be striken of from his shoulders▪ such was the mortal race of this mi∣serable life, which this blessed Martyr did runne. The rest of his companions, after the like tor∣ments, ended their liues, with the laying of their heads vpon the blocke. In the ende, Firmilianus, although in maner weryed, and frustrated of his purpose, yet satisfied to the full with these infi∣nite

torments and their terrible execution, turned him selfe vnto Pamphilus, and his companions. And although he had experience sufficient heretofore of their inuincible constancy in the defence of their fayth, yet agayne he demaundeth whether at length they would obey and yelde vnto him. when he was resolued of their definite sentence and last answere, which tended to martyrdome, he* 1.6 gaue sentence they should be tormented and punished alike with the former martyrs. which being done, a yong man, one of the seruants of Pamphilus, so well brought by & instructed, that he might very well seeme worthy the discipline and education of so worthy a man, as soone as he perceaued that sentence was past vpon his maister, crieth out in the middest of the throng and requesteth that his maisters carkasse together with his companions, after the breath were departed their body, might quietly be buried in their graues. The Iudge being affectioned not like vnto man, but to a beast, or if there be any other thing more sauadg, tendered not at all y^• yong mans youthly yeares, but forth w^t demaundeth of him whether he were a christian, who, when that he affirmed plainly that he was: boyled with anger, as if his hart had bene stickt w^t a knife, & charged the tormentors they shoulde laye on him the weyght of their handes and the might of their strength. after that he was inioyned to sacrifice, and had refused: the Iudge commaunded that without all compassion he should be scourged vnto the bare bone, the inner and secret bowells, not as if he were man couered with flesh and compassed in a skinne, but a picture made of stone or wood, or some other senselesse metall. In which kinde of torment continewed a long time, when the iudge perceaued that he vtte∣red no language, neither gaue forth to vnderstand y^• he felt any paine: & sawe that (his body being in maner senselesse, spent with lashes & consumed away) he tormented him in vayne: he continew∣ed still in that his hard and stony hart, voyde of all humanitie, and decreed forthwith that his body should be burned by a litle and a litle with a slowe and slacke fire. This yong man being the last of them which afore the martyrdome of Pamphilus (who was his maister according vnto the fleshe) entred into this dangerous skirmishe, departed this life before him, because that the tormentors which executed the rest seemed to be very slow. Then might a man haue seene Porphyrius (for that was the yong mans name) after triall in euery kinde of exercise, earnestly and wholy bent with a wonderful desire, as the maner is of men, to obtayne the valiant & sacred victory: his body be pou∣dred with dust, yet gracious in face and countenance: hastening to the place of execution for al his affections with vpright and noble courage replenished no doubt with the spirite of God: attyred in the philosophicall habit after his wonted guyse, to wete, wearing a garment after the maner of a cloke which couered only his shoulders: telling his familiars with signes & tokens w^t a modest & mild spirite what his wil was to be done: continewing still yea when he was bounde to the stake, his glorious & gladsome countenance: & moreouer when the fire flashed about with great distance, and waxed extreame hott in compasse of him, ye might haue seene him with his breath on eyther side drawing the flame vnto him: and after these wordes when as the flame first of all toutched his bodye, which with loude voyce he sounded out (Iesus thou sonne of God succor and helpe me) to haue suffred constantly without any murmuring at al, all those maruelous and extreame torments, euen to the last gaspe. such was the affliction of Porphyrius, whose ende Seleucus a confessor and a* 1.7 souldier signified vnto Pamphilus▪ who as the author of such a message deserued, was without de∣lay thought worthy to take the same chaunce together with those Martyrs. for as soone as he had certified him of Porphyrius death, and taken his leaue and farewell of one of the Martyrs, certaine souldiers laye handes vpon him, and bring him before the President. he as if he went about to ha∣sten his iourney and to ioyne him a wayfaring companion with Porphyrius vnto the celestial para∣dise, commaūdeth forthwith that he should be beheaded. This Seleucus was borne in Cappadocia, & preferred to this great honor before all the youth of the Romaine bande and before them which were of great creditt and estimation among the Romaines, he excelled all the rest of the souldiers in youthly fauour, in strength, & goodly stature of body, his countenance was gracious, his speach amiable, he passed for comely making, for bigge setting, for fayre liking, and fit proportion of the whole body▪ he was famous at the beginning of the persecution for his pacient suffring of stripes in the defence of the fayth, and being depriued of the warlike dignitie which he enioyed, became a zelous follower of the worshippers or religious men, he succored and prouided with fatherly care & ouersight for the fatherles, the succorlesse, y^• widowes, and such men as were visited with greate misery & affliction. wherfore God being rather delited w^t such like sacrifices of mercy, and workes of charitye, then with smokye incense and bloody oblations, called him of his goodnes, vnto this glorious and renowmed garland of martyrdome. this was the tenth champion of the number men∣tioned

before, which suffered death in one and the selfe same daye, whereby (as it appeareth) the great and bewtifull gate of the kingdome of heauen, being sett wide open by the meanes of Pam∣philus his martyrdome, made an easie passage both vnto him and the others his companions to the attayning of the perfect pleasure in the celestiall paradise. Theodulus also a graue and a zelous fa∣ther,* 1.8 one of Firmilianus the Presidents familie, and in greater creditt with him, then all the rest of his houshold, partly for his whore heade and greate yeares (for he was a greate graundfather) and partly for the singuler good will and affection borne alwayes towards him: treading the same step∣pes which Seleucus had done before him, and committing the like crime with him, is brought before his maister Firmilianus the President, to pleade for him self: who being incensed with greater rage towards him then the rest of y^• Martyrs, deliuered him in the ende to be crucified, which kind of mar∣tyrdome after the example of our Sauiour he suffered most willingly. yet because there wanted one* 1.9 which might supplye the twelfe rowme among the Martyrs rehearsed before, Iulianus came forth. who comming from farre and as yet not entred into the wrastling place, as soone as he had hearde by the way as he came of their death and happy endes, forthwith he conueyed him straight vnto the noble spectacle and theatre of Martyrs, and as soone as he sawe with his eyes the blessed bo∣dyes of the Sainctes lying all a long vpon the grounde, he was tickled with inward ioye, he em∣braced them seuerally, and saluted them after the best maner. which when he had done the catchpoles and executioners apprehended him, and presented him before Firmilianus, who after he had execu∣ted such thinges as were correspondent vnto his cruell nature, commaunded he shoulde be layde vp∣on a slowe and a slacke fire, and so burned to death. Iulianus triumphed and leapt for ioye, and with a loude voyce gaue great thankes vnto God, who voutch safed him worthy, so greate a glory and re∣warde, and in the ende he was crowned with martyrdome. he was by birth of Cappadocia, in life and conuersation holy, faythfull and very religious, and besides his fame in other things he was in∣spired with the aboundance of the spirite of God. such was the trayne of them which were tormen∣ted, and by the goodnes of God crowned Martyrs in the company of Pamphilus. their holy and happy carkasses were kept aboue grounde by the decree of the wicked President, foure dayes and foure nightes to be deuoured of the beastes of the fielde, and of the foules of the ayre. but when as miraculously neyther beaste, neyther byrde, neyther dogge drewe nighe vnto them, agayne by the grace and goodnes of Almighty God, they were caried away safe and sounde, and committed with solempne buriall after the christian maner, vnto their still graues and resting sepulchres. Further∣more when the tyranny and cruelty practised against vs, was bruted abroad, and rife in euery mans mouth: Adrianus and Eubulus of the contrey Manganaea, taking their iourney towards Caesarea, for to visite the rest of the confessors, were taken at the gates of the city, and examined concerning y^• cause of their voyage into that contrey. afterwards freely confessing the truth they were brought before Firmilianus, he without any more adoe, or farther deliberation, after many torments, and in∣finite stripes, gaue sentence they shoulde be torne in peeces of wilde beastes. within two dayes af∣ter, being the fift day of the moneth Dystros, about the thirde Nones of March, when the citizens* 1.10 of Caesarea celebrated their wakes, vpon the day of reuells, Adrianus was throwen at the feete of a fierce lion, afterwards slayne with the edge of the sworde and so dyed. Eubulus the thirde day after, about noone, in the selfe same Nones of March, being the seuenth day of the moneth Dystros, when the iudge entreated him earnestly to sacrifice vnto the Idols, whereby he might enioye their free∣dome according vnto lawe and order: he preferred the glorious death for godlines sake, before this frayle and transitory life: after he was torne and mangled of wilde beastes he was slayne (as* 1.11 his fellowe before him) with the edge of the sworde, and being the last he sealed with his bloode all the happy conflicts of the blessed Martyrs of Caesarea but it shall seeme worthy the noting▪ if at length we remember, howe, after what sorte, and that not long after the heauy hande of God lighted vpon those wicked Magistrates, together with the tyrants them selues. for Firmilianus* 1.12 who frowardly and contumeliously raged agaynst the Martyrs of Christ, suffering extreame pu∣nishment together with the other his parteners in horrible practises, ended his life with the swords▪ And these were the martyrdomes suffered at Caesarea, during the whole persecution.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pamphilus.
• * 1.2

  Valens.
• * 1.3

  Paulus.
• * 1.4

  5. Martyrs be headed.
• * 1.5

  Gal••••. 4 Heb. 12.
• * 1.6

  Porphyrius the seruant of Pamphi∣lus after tor∣ment was burned to death.
• * 1.7

  Seleucus be∣headed.
• * 1.8

  Theodulus crucified.
• * 1.9

  Iulianus bur¦ned.
• * 1.10

  Adrianus be headed.
• * 1.11

  Eubulus be∣headed.
• * 1.12

  Firmilianus the wicked tyrant was beheaded.