University of Virginia Library

Mark Antonine getting upon his pate
Th'Imperiall Trinket, Royall Laureate
Doth point his sparkling sword in Holy blood
Drawn from the Saints, Phlebotomizd, aflood.
In Asia first this Cruell game is plaid
And Philodelphs twelve Champion brave assai'de,
They did with hellish Cruelties untill
Their scourging Whips according to their Will
Their inward Veans and Arteries make appear
Their intrails bowells, members too seen were,
Then set them on sharp Shells, Edgd, Nails, and Thorns
To go upon, then thrown to beasts with scorns.
Germanicus behavde himself herein
Most Christianly, with patient suffering
And those that came at this sad sight to gaize
Were smit hereby and put into a maize.

Old Polycarp an Apostolick man
Johns Choice Disciple, Smyrna's Light began
To fill this rage he's apprehended, ta'ne
And entring in the judgment place, there came
A Voice from heaven heard by many there
That said, Oh Polycarp, be of good Cheere,
And play the man, Then urgd Christ to deny,
I've eighty six years serv'd him, did reply
He never hurt me, how then shall I fling
Ill speech against my Sovereign Lord, and King:
Being threatined if he took no better way
To be unto the Wild beasts thrown, did say
Then bring them we resolve repentance shall
Not from the better to the worst of all
Convay us. Then being threat'ned the fire,
He said thou threatenest us with fire in ire
But knowst not the Fire of Everlasting doom
That is reserved the Wicked to Consume,
Then to the Pile he goes but yet denay'd
To be their naild, and when he had then pray'd,
The fire was kindled, and the flames did rage
And unto Wonder like a Valted Stage
Or Sayle filld up with winde about him who
Lay in the midst not burnt, but shone like to
Refined Gold and Silver, and there rose
A sweet perfume like Myrrh and touched those
That did him tend: at last they thrust him through
And end him with a Sword: hence blood doth flow
And quench the fire. Then was the Enemy
Amazd to see how bravely Christians dy.

This furious rage like to a boiling pot
Did wallop ore in Europe far more hot.
Some say those mentioned in Pius rain
Did martyredom under this Marke sustain.
Now Justine Martyre that Philosopher
That did present to Mark this Emperor,
And to the Senate grave Apologies
For Christian Faith, a blessed Martyre dies.
France feels the fury of this Hellish flame,
It unto Lions and Vienna came
Where Christs meeke flock did patiently endure
What e're the frantick rage of folk procures
As Railings, Draggings, Haulings, Stone flingings,
Scourgings, Imprisonings, and such sad things.
Then in the market place judg'd (oh sad state)
By th'Captain and the City Potentates.
Then usd with all extremity behold
Vetius Epagathus no longer could
Refrain (that Choice young Noble, pious bold
And Zelous man like Zachary of old
For Holy Walking) made his suite that he
To plead the Christians Case might sufferd be
But not permitted, met with this demand
Art thou a Christian? Whence even out of hand
His loud voice sounded I'm a Christian. So
He's stild their Advocate, doth to them go,
And by his Spirit, Zeale, Example they
Were mightily incouragd in their way.
Yet some there were that fell through pannick Fear
Which did perplex them, Farthermore they hear
Their Pagan Servants load them with (like beasts)
Jocasta's incest, and Thyastes' Feast.
Hence now all tore to pieces them in rage
As worthy now of nothing but a Stage.
They're in such nasty prisons forct to ly
The Sinck doth poyson certain that they dy.

Now a Sanctus Deacon of Vienna Saints
Tormented more than can be told nere faints,
By all their tortures to their madding come
No other answers but Christianus sum.
Hence to his tender bowells they apply
Brass plates red not that scorch him up and fry,
Draw up and purse his Wounded body so,
That it had lost all Human Shape and show.
An other time his body being sore
And swoln up, all ore, could not endure
Ones finger's touch, he is had out again
And they apply thereto tortures in vain.
Their torment instruments by power divine
Do Cure his body, proove his medicine,
Restore him to his former shape and bring
His members to their Use, a wondrous thing.
He and Maturus then another time
Are made the Stage play, must the scaffold climbe,
All kinds of torments suffer, scourging, Fray
Of Wild beast, torn, as if the other day
They'd sufferd nothing; then they are set in
A Red hot iron Chaire whose fryings sing
As on a Gridiron upon coales, whose sent
By frying in the peoples noses went:
Yet nothing could they gain of Sanctus save
That good Confession which before he gave.
These holy men thus made the peoples game
This day till spent, and then at length were slain.

They spend their hellish rage again with spite
Upon Blandina brought to open sight,
Tormenting her by Course all day long till
They're jaded out, sit down, sum up the bill.
Had torn and rent her body, said that one
Of these sore torments were enough alone
To pluck her soul out of her body, they
Sat down, and could no more on her assay.
But this blesst Saint as often as she said
I am a Christian, not bad pranck have plaid
Was wonderful refresht and was beside
Imboldened these torments to abide.
And then another time she's took and hung
In Gibbits low, that wild beasts forth might come
And tare her off, then down she's took again
And when she'd been scourgd, frying did sustain
Lapt in a net and cast to Wild Bulls Fand
Upon their Horns, her Soul on Christ did stand
So fixt its thought she felt small pain, but were
At last beheaded in Christs Quarrell deare.

Then Attalus of Pergana who was
A Church foundation Filler out doth pass
Cast to wild beast: then on the red hot Chair
Of Iron and his savour sented there
Bespake them thus, behold this that ye do
Is eating Humane flesh: we don't do so
We eat not men nor Wickedness commit
And thus at last he's slain, a martyre fit.

One Alexander a Physitian's said
In this same sort a martyre too was made.
And so was Ponticus a youth, And they
Were martyr'd too that faild the other day.
Thus went the Case till God did Mark Confound
In Germany, and's host nigh compasst round
By Cruell foes, in passages full streight
And with a five dayes thirst procur'd by heat
Had then deliverance from heaven brought
By Christian Souldiers that the same things sought
By earnest prayre. And also when most grave
Apologies some worthy ones him gave
He did all Cruelty surcease that they
Accounted now they had an Halcyon day.
And when the Royall Bonett of did hop
From Verus unto Commodus his top
The peace remaind with Christians, yet the taile
Of this Red firebrand did some assaile.

That Noble Senator of Rome whose name
Was Apolonius, a Christian, Came
Before the judge Perennine, when complaint
Was laid against him; 'gainst the Laws-Restraint.
On pain of Death upon a faulse Charge laid
Against a Christian, hence the man was made
To beare the Sentence and his legs are broke
And so he fell under a righteous stroke.
But then the Judge upon entreaties and
His Warrant given for his live in hand
Prevailing, Apolonius in briefe
An Eloquent defence of his beliefe
Before the Senate laid, Which done they came
And spite of promise head him for the same,
According to their Law, that Christians who
Are raignd, and turn not, shall not pass off so.
Vencent, Euseby, and Potentian
With Peregrine who laboured each man
To bring poore souls to Christ, were tortured
Then presst with weight of Lead till fully dead.
Their Convert Julius a Senator
Did bravely shew unto the Emperour
His Faith, and did affirm that who adore
His Gods must perish and for evermore.
And when they could not cause him t'eat this breath
He's cruelly with Cudgells thrasht to death.