Brachy-Martyrologia Or, A Brewery of all the greatest Persecutions Which have befallen the Saints and People of God From the Creation to our present Times: Paraphras'd, By Nicholas Billingsly |
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SECT. VIII. The fourth Primitive Persecution, which began Anno Christi 162.
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| XXVIII. |
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| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
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 | Brachy-Martyrologia |  |
27
SECT. VIII. The fourth Primitive Persecution, which began Anno Christi 162.
Now
Antoninus Verus, Pius son,
(Who dead) rais'd the third persecution.
Germanicus, Pionius, Metrodore,
Polycarp, Carpus, and a number more
In Asia burn'd. Felicitas at Rome,
With her seven children suffered Martyrdome.
Scourg'd was her eldest Son; and after, prest
To death with leaden weights, attain'd true rest.
The two next had their brains knockt out with mauls:
The 4th thrown headlong down a prec'pice, sprawls
With his broke neck: The three that do remain,
Must lose their heads. In fine, the Mother's slain.
Concordus suffered; who in disgrace,
Did spirt out spittle in the Idols face.
In France the Christians underwent all wrongs;
As Scourgings, stonings, and the spatt'ring tongues
Of railing Rabshakeh's: at home, abroad,
Their backs must tolerate afflictions load:
Yet well they knew, that griefs were transitory,
If but compared to eternal glory.
Sanchis the Bishop of Vienna, stood
Unmov'd, under such pains, as flesh and blood
Could not endure to bear: no torments could
Prevail to make him to let go his hold.
When he was ask'd, where he was born and bred;
He, I'm a Christian, onely answered:
And when another did demand his name,
Urging it much, his answer was the same:
A third enquir'd, whether he were a man,
Or bond, or free; I am a Christian,
He still reply'd: no torments could divorce
His constant lips from using that discourse.
When there were plates of candent Brass apply'd
T'his tendrest parts: O how did he abide
That scorching heat! nor was he seen to shrink,
As did his body: while his tort'rers think,
With new supplies to force his recantation,
He quite contrary to their expectation,
VVas so restor'd, that what he did endure
These latter times, did prove his Sov'raign cure.
At last plac'd in a red-hot iron chair,
His spir't (with others) vanish'd into Air.
Thus were the holy Saints, from morn to night,
A spectacle unto the people's sight.
Biblides in the midst of pains spake thus,
Ah! how should we (as you report of us)
VVe Christians, think you, of our babes make food?
VVhen we not taint our lips with bestial blood.
Attalus frying, thus Your selves do eat
Mans flesh: and as for us, we loath such meat.
B'ing asked what he call'd their God by name;
He answer'd, Man's and his was not the same.
Then let your God, if that a God he be
So powerfull (said they) come set you free.
Pont'cus a youth of fourteen years of age,
Perpass'd the utmost of the fo-mens rage.
VVilde beasts are put to Blandina, but they;
More merciful then men, would go their way.
VVhipped she is, then broyl'd and thrown on ground
For Buls to tear: from every gaping wound
Blood gushes forth, and runneth out afresh
From th' unstopp'd chinks of her bemangled flesh.
She felt no paine, by reason she was fill'd
VVith spir'tual joy: she at the last was kill'd.
The bodies of the Saints were made a mock,
A scorn, a by-word, and a laughing-stock
I'th' open streets, till thrice two Suns were down,
Then burn'd their ashes in the river thrown.
Th' Apostatized Christians, which came
Unto their tryals, did confess their shame
By down-cast looks, and sorrow-boding faces;
The Gentiles pulveriz'd them with disgraces,
As persons too degenerous, addicted
To vice, deserving what should be inflicted:
But they which constant to the last remain'd,
VVent with a cheerful brow, and entertain'd
An obvious death; and, as it were combin'd
Their glorious rayes, and like to Phœbus shin'd.
(Who dead) rais'd the third persecution.
Germanicus, Pionius, Metrodore,
Polycarp, Carpus, and a number more
In Asia burn'd. Felicitas at Rome,
With her seven children suffered Martyrdome.
Scourg'd was her eldest Son; and after, prest
To death with leaden weights, attain'd true rest.
The two next had their brains knockt out with mauls:
The 4th thrown headlong down a prec'pice, sprawls
With his broke neck: The three that do remain,
Must lose their heads. In fine, the Mother's slain.
Concordus suffered; who in disgrace,
Did spirt out spittle in the Idols face.
In France the Christians underwent all wrongs;
As Scourgings, stonings, and the spatt'ring tongues
Of railing Rabshakeh's: at home, abroad,
Their backs must tolerate afflictions load:
Yet well they knew, that griefs were transitory,
If but compared to eternal glory.
Sanchis the Bishop of Vienna, stood
Unmov'd, under such pains, as flesh and blood
Could not endure to bear: no torments could
Prevail to make him to let go his hold.
When he was ask'd, where he was born and bred;
He, I'm a Christian, onely answered:
28
Urging it much, his answer was the same:
A third enquir'd, whether he were a man,
Or bond, or free; I am a Christian,
He still reply'd: no torments could divorce
His constant lips from using that discourse.
When there were plates of candent Brass apply'd
T'his tendrest parts: O how did he abide
That scorching heat! nor was he seen to shrink,
As did his body: while his tort'rers think,
With new supplies to force his recantation,
He quite contrary to their expectation,
VVas so restor'd, that what he did endure
These latter times, did prove his Sov'raign cure.
At last plac'd in a red-hot iron chair,
His spir't (with others) vanish'd into Air.
Thus were the holy Saints, from morn to night,
A spectacle unto the people's sight.
Biblides in the midst of pains spake thus,
Ah! how should we (as you report of us)
VVe Christians, think you, of our babes make food?
VVhen we not taint our lips with bestial blood.
Attalus frying, thus Your selves do eat
Mans flesh: and as for us, we loath such meat.
B'ing asked what he call'd their God by name;
He answer'd, Man's and his was not the same.
Then let your God, if that a God he be
So powerfull (said they) come set you free.
Pont'cus a youth of fourteen years of age,
Perpass'd the utmost of the fo-mens rage.
VVilde beasts are put to Blandina, but they;
More merciful then men, would go their way.
VVhipped she is, then broyl'd and thrown on ground
For Buls to tear: from every gaping wound
29
From th' unstopp'd chinks of her bemangled flesh.
She felt no paine, by reason she was fill'd
VVith spir'tual joy: she at the last was kill'd.
The bodies of the Saints were made a mock,
A scorn, a by-word, and a laughing-stock
I'th' open streets, till thrice two Suns were down,
Then burn'd their ashes in the river thrown.
Th' Apostatized Christians, which came
Unto their tryals, did confess their shame
By down-cast looks, and sorrow-boding faces;
The Gentiles pulveriz'd them with disgraces,
As persons too degenerous, addicted
To vice, deserving what should be inflicted:
But they which constant to the last remain'd,
VVent with a cheerful brow, and entertain'd
An obvious death; and, as it were combin'd
Their glorious rayes, and like to Phœbus shin'd.
So have I seen a fair and comly Bride,
Richly attir'd, with what a decent pride
She quits her conclave, or interior room,
And steps to meet with her returning Groom,
Who drawing neer, about her neck doth fall,
And seals his favours on her lips withall.
Faith as an ornament the soul endows;
Christ is the Bridegroom, and the Church the Spouse
Prepares to meet him, and direct her paces,
That he may hug her with entwin'd embraces.
They meet; Christ & his following Spouse do clamber
Up by steep staires; heaven is the Bridal Chamber:
Where, with Unknown delights, they are possest
Of sweet reposes, and eternal rest.
Marcus Aurelius, and Antonius go
To war against the Quades the Vandals too:
Their Army by innum'rous foes beset,
Were so put to't, the souldiers could not get
The least of water, their thirst to allay:
VVith that, a Christian Legion fell to pray,
(VVithdrawing from the rest) the heav'n disburst
Abundant show'rs; the Romans quench'd their thirst:
Against their enemies, such lightnings flash'd,
As made them fly discomfited and dash'd.
The Emp'rour pleas'd hereat, commands that none
Kill Christians more, whose God such things had done:
And his (which was not long in force) decree
Burn'd the accusers, set th' accused free.
Richly attir'd, with what a decent pride
She quits her conclave, or interior room,
And steps to meet with her returning Groom,
Who drawing neer, about her neck doth fall,
And seals his favours on her lips withall.
Faith as an ornament the soul endows;
Christ is the Bridegroom, and the Church the Spouse
Prepares to meet him, and direct her paces,
That he may hug her with entwin'd embraces.
They meet; Christ & his following Spouse do clamber
Up by steep staires; heaven is the Bridal Chamber:
Where, with Unknown delights, they are possest
Of sweet reposes, and eternal rest.
Marcus Aurelius, and Antonius go
To war against the Quades the Vandals too:
30
Were so put to't, the souldiers could not get
The least of water, their thirst to allay:
VVith that, a Christian Legion fell to pray,
(VVithdrawing from the rest) the heav'n disburst
Abundant show'rs; the Romans quench'd their thirst:
Against their enemies, such lightnings flash'd,
As made them fly discomfited and dash'd.
The Emp'rour pleas'd hereat, commands that none
Kill Christians more, whose God such things had done:
And his (which was not long in force) decree
Burn'd the accusers, set th' accused free.
| Brachy-Martyrologia | |