LETTER FROM THE CHURCHES OF LYONS AND VIENNE TO THE CHURCHES IN ASIA.

 

Frag. I. The dwellers in Vienne and Lyons of Gaul, slaves of Christ, to the brethren in Asia and Phrygia who have the same faith and hope of redemption with us, peace and grace and glory from God the Father and our Lord Christ Jesus.

1 . The greatness of this our tribulation, the furious rage of the Gentiles against the saints, and what things the blessed martyrs have suffered, we are not able exactly to express by word, or comprehend in writing. For the adversary en deavoured with all his might, showing tokens of his preparatives and disposed entrance to persecution, and passing throughout all places, acquainted and instructed his followers to strive against the servants of God : so that we were not only banished our houses, baths, and common market-places, but altogether every one of us straightly charged not to show his face.

2. Yet the grace of God withstood him, delivering the weaklings, and contrariwise upholding certain others, as sure and immovable pillars, which through their sufferance were able not only to repel the violence of the despiteful adversary, but also to provoke him, patiently abiding all kinds of slander and punishment. To be short, accounting great torments but as small trifles, they hastened unto Christ, declaring, as is the truth, that the passions of these present times are not worthy of the glory which shall be revealed unto us. And first of all, they bear manfully all such vexations as the multitude laid upon them; as exclamations, scourgings, draggings, spoiling, stoning, fettering, and the like, whatsoever the heady arid savage multitude are accustomed to practise against their professed enemies.

3. Next, being led into the open market-place, and examination had, they were condemned in presence of the people by the tribune and the other chief potentates of the city, and cast into prison, until the president's coming. After that, when they were brought before the president, who had exercised all kind of extreme cruelty against us, Vettius Epagathus, one of the brethren (having fulness of love towards God and man, whose conversation was so perfect, although a young man, that he was thought comparable with Zacharias the priest, for he walked unblameably in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, and very serviceably towards his neighbours, having great zeal and fervency of the spirit of God) allowed not of the sentence unjustly pronounced against us, but with vehement motion required that audience might be given him to plead for the brethren, alleging that we had committed no impiety. Which being denied him (for he was a noble man) of such as compassed the tribunal seat, and of the president rejecting this just petition, and only demanding whether he was a Christian, he confessed it with a loud voice, and so he was received into the fellowship of the martyrs, and called the advocate of the Christians. For he having the Spirit which is the Comforter, in greater abundance than Zacharias, declared the fulness of love that was in him, in that he spared not his life in defence of the brethren. He was and is the true disciple of Christ, following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth

4. From that moment the other proto- martyrs, stirred up by this example, hasten themselves unto martyrdom, and are become livelier, and readier, accomplishing the confession of martyrdom with all cheerfulness of mind. There were certain others found unready, less exercised, and as yet weak, not of ability to bear the burden of so weighty a com bat (in number ten) which fell through the frailty of the flesh, to our great heaviness and sorrowful lamentation, checking the cheerfulness of others, which were not as yet apprehended, but accompanied the martyrs what torments soever befel them, and severed not themselves from them. Then we trembled all for fear, and that greatly, because of the uncertainty of confessions; being not terrified with any torments, but careful for the end, lest any should fall from the faith. Daily there were apprehended such as were worthy to fulfil the number of the fallen weaklings, so that out of both these churches as many as ruled and bore the greatest sway were taken and executed, and withal certain of the Gentiles, being our servants, were taken (for the president had commanded publicly a general inquisition to be made for us) who being overcome by the subtle sleights of Satan, and terrified with the sight of the torments which the saints suffered, through the persuasions of the soldiers, urging them forwards, feigned against us, and reported that we used the feastings of Thyestes, and the incest of Edipus, with divers other crimes, which may neither godlily be thought upon, nor with modesty be uttered, nor without impiety be believed. These things now being bruited abroad, everybody was moved and incensed against us, insomuch that they which for familiarity's sake used moderation before, now were exceedingly moved and mad with us. Then was that saying of our Saviour fulfilled, to wit: The time will come when every one that slayeth you shall think that therein he doth God good service.

5. Then suffered the holy martyrs such torments as tongue cannot express. And Satan also provoked them with all might possible,that they should utter some blasphemy. Great was the whole rage both of people, president, and soldiers, set against Sanctus, deacon of the church of Vienne; and against Maturus, lately baptized, yet a notable warrior; and against Attalus, a Pergamenian, who was always a pillar and fortress for our faith; and against Blandina, a woman, by whom Christ showed that those things which in the sight of men appear vile, base, and contemptible, deserve great glory with God, for the true love they bear towards him indeed, without boasting in show. For when we all quaked for fear, yea and her carnal mistress (which also was one of the persecuted martyrs) was very careful lest that peradventure at the time of her answer, by reason of the frailty of the flesh, she should not persevere constant : Blandina was so replenished with grace from above, that the executioners which tormented her by turns from morning to night fainted for weariness, and ceased, confessing themselves overcome, and that they were no longer able to plague her with any more punishments; marvelling that as yet she drew breath, having her whole body rent in pieces, and the wounds open; they confessing withal that one of those torments was of force sufficient to cost her her life, much more so many and so great. But this blessed woman, like a noble wrestler, was renewed at her confession; for as oft as she pronounced, "I am a Christian, neither have we committed any evil", she was recreated, refreshed, and felt no pain of her punishment.

6. Sanctus also bore nobly and valiantly, yea above the nature of man, all such vexations as man could devise. When those lawless people, by reason of his great sufferings and torments, had well hoped to have heard sone indecent and uncomely speech out of his mouth, his constancy was so great that he uttered neither his own name, neither his kindred, neither the country whence he was, nor whether he were bond or free, but unto every question he answered, in the Roman tongue, "I am a Christian". Thus confessed he often, instead of all other things, of his name, and city, and kindred; neither could the Gentiles get any other language of him, wherefore the president and the tormentors were fiercely set against him. And when now there remained no punishment unpractiesd, at length they applied unto the tenderest parts of his body plates of brass glowing hot, which fried, seared, and scorched his body, yet he remained unmovable, nothing amazed, and constant in his confession, being strengthened and moistened with the dew which fell from the celestial fountain of the water of life, gushing out of the womb of Christ. His body bore witness of the burning. For over all his body his flesh was wounded, his members bescarred, his sinews shrank, so that the natural shape and outward hue was quite changed, in whom Christ suffering, obtained unspeakable glory, conquering Satan, and leaving an example for the instruction of others, that no torment is terrible where the Father is beloved, no lamentation loathsome where Christ is glorified. When the wicked tormentors a few days after had brought him to the place of torment, and well hoped that if they punished him now (having his whole body puffed up with swelling and festered wounds, so sore that it might not be touched, no not with the least finger) they should overcome him, and prevail; or that if he died in torment, they should terrify the rest, and so warn them to take heed : none of all these happened unto him, but, beyond all man's expectation, in the latter torments his body was released of the pain, recovered the former shape, and the members were restored to their former use, so that the second plague, through the grace of Christ, was no griev ous malady, but a present medicine.

7. Again, the devil, thinking he had already devoured Byblis, and her a woman (one of them which had fainted before), and wishing to condemn her further by blasphemy, caused her to be brought forth, supposing her frail and fearful mind now to be quite altered from the Christian opinion, and consequently through her blasphemous denial to be in danger of damnation. But she at the very hour of torment returned unto herself, and waking as it were out of a dead sleep, by means of these punishments temporal, considered of "the pains eternal in hell fire, and, unlocked for, cried out unto the tor mentors, and said, "How could they devour infants which were not suffered to suck the blood of brute beasts?". Therefore when she confessed herself a Christian, she was appointed to take her chance among the martyrs.

8. When these tyrannical torments were taken away of Christ, through the patience of the blessed saints, the devil invented other mischiefs, to wit : the imprisoning of the saints in deep and dark dungeons, fettering of them in the stocks, stretching their feet unto the fifth board chink, with other punishments, which furious ministers, full of devilish rage, are wont to put in use and practice upon poor prisoners. So that many were stifled and strangled in prison, whom the Lord would have so to end this life, and to show forth his glory. For the saints being so sore weakened with grievous torments, that though all medicines were ministered unto them, yet life seemed to them impossible, remained shut up in close prison, destitute of all man's aid, but comforted of the Lord, and confirmed in body and mind, so that they stirred up and comforted the rest. The younger sort that were newly apprehended, whose bodies had not before tasted of the lash of the whip, loathed the closeness of the prison, and were choked up with stench.

9. But blessed Potheinus to whom the charge of the bishop's see of Lyons was committed, being above fourscore and ten years old, weak of body, scarce able to draw breath, because of the imbecility of nature, being strengthened with the cheerfulness of the spirit, for the conceived joy of martyrdom which he desired, was brought forth before the tribunal seat, faint in body, for that he was old and sickly, his life being for this end reserved, that Christ by the means of it might triumph. He was carried of the soldiers and laid before the tribunal seat, accompanied with the potentates of the city, and the whole multitude, diversely shouting, as if he had been Christ; he hath given a good testimony. And being demanded of the president who is the God of the Christians, he answered : "If thou become worthy thou shalt understand". After this answer he was cruelly handled, and suffered many stripes : for such as were nearest unto him struck at him both with hand and foot, reverencing his years nothing at all : and such as stood afar off, look what each one had in his hand, that was thrown at his head : and such as ceased from pouring out their poisoned malice, thought themselves to have grievously offended, supposing by these means to revenge the ruin of their rotten gods. But he, almost breathless, was thrown into prison, where, after two days, he departed this life.

10. Here was shown the great providence of Almighty God, and the infinite mercy of Jesus Christ, though very seldom outwardly appearing unto the brethren, yet never destitute of the power of Christ. And as many as fainted in the first persecution, were all alike imprisoned and partaker of the affliction. Neither did they prevail, or the denial profit them : it was thought a sufficient fault that they confessed to have been such : but these, as murderers and heinous trespassers, were twice more grievously plagued. The joy of martyrdom, the hoped promises, the love towards Christ, and the fatherly spirit comforted the one company : the other were vexed in conscience, so that their outward countenance bewrayed their inward apostasy : for the former went cheerfully with great majesty and grace, their fetters becoming them as the skirts of the new-married spouse, garnished with sundry colours, and laid over with gold, and withal yielding a Christian fragrant smell, so that many supposed their bodies to have been outwardly perfumed : but the other, all sad and sorrowful, as vile and abject caitiffs, misshapen creatures, full of all deformity, derided of the Gentiles themselves, deserving death as degenerate cowards, destitute of the most precious, glorious, and lively name of Christianity. With the sight hereof many were confirmed, so that suddenly being apprehended, without stay they protested their faith, not hindered with oue thought of devilish persuasion.

11. After these things the forms of martyrdom are framed, and divided into divers sorts. For of many fair-coloured and sweet-smelling flowers, they offered unto God the Father one well-twisted and compacted crown or garland. It behoved noble champions, having borne the brunt of so variable a combat, and gotten a magnificent victory, to triumph with an incorruptible crown of immortality. Maturus then, and Sanctus, and Blandina, and Attalus, were led unto the brute beasts, in the popular and public spectacle of the heathenish inhumanity, even at the day appointed of set purpose by our men for so brutal a combat. Where again Maturus and Sanctus were diversely tormented with all kind of punishments as if they had suffered nothing before. Yea, rather (as it were with many new means) repelling the adversary, they bore the victorious garland, suffering again all the wonted revilings, all the cruelty of the savage beasts, and whatsoever the outrageous multitude craved and commanded, and above all, they patiently suffered the iron chair, wherein their bodies broiled as in a frying-pan, filling such as were present with the loathsome savour of that their fulsome froth. Neither were they thus contented, but practised further to overcome the patient sufferance of the saints. Neither could they get any other sentence of Sanctus, save that confession which he cried at the first. At length when these saints had endured this great and grievous trial, they were slain and executed, after all that whole day they had been made a spectacle unto the world, in that variable combat, as commonly it falleth out in equal matches, where one fighteth with another.

But Blandina was hanged in chains, an object for the wild beasts to exercise their savage violence upon; no doubt so done by the ordinance of God, that the hanging in the form of a cross might, by her incessant prayer, procure cheerfulness of mind unto the saints that suffered, whereas they in that agony beholding with outward eye in their sister, him that was crucified for them, might persuade the faithful that such as suffer for Christ's sake shall have fellowship with the living God. After that she had hung a long while, and no beast touched her, she is taken down, cast into prison, and reserved for further torment, that being conqueror of many combats, she might provide for the crooked serpent, inexcusable condemnation, and animate the brethren unto cheerfulness, she being a weak and contemptible person, putting on the great, the strong, and invincible Champion Christ Jesus, obtaining, through her often and manifold patience, the incorruptible crown of glory.

Attalus, also a famous man, was earnestly called for of the people unto punishment, who being ready, and of a clear conscience, came forth. For he being notably exercised in the Christian profession, was always a witness and defender of the truth. Therefore when he was led about the theatre, with a scroll before him, wherein was written in the Roman tongue : "This is Attalus the Christian" : and the people had raged against him, the president knowing that he was a Roman, commanded him to be imprisoned, and closely kept with the other prisoners, concerning whom he had written unto Cassar, and expected an answer.

12. But the time passing between was neither vain nor fruitless, for the infinite mercy of Christ Jesus our Saviour shone in the world through their patience. The dead were by the living revived; the martyrs profited such as were no martyrs, the pure virgin and mother the church was greatly comforted and cherished, when as she recovered and received for living, such as before she had lost as untimely births and dead fruit. For many which before had fainted, by their means were restored, regenerated, stirred up afresh, taught to protest their faith, and now being quickened, and strengthened, having tasted of him which wills not the death of a sinner, but is merciful unto the penitent, they come forth before the tribunal seat, ready to answer unto the interrogatories of the president. And because that Caesar had commanded by writing, that such as confessed themselves Christians should be executed, and such as renounced should depart from that thronged solemnity (which by reason of the concourse of the Gentiles from every country, was at the beginning very populous) he brought forth from prison the blessed confessors into the open spectacle and presence of the people, to be scornfully gazed upon, and when he had again made inquisition of them, as many as he found to be privileged persons of Rome, those he beheaded, the rest he threw to be rent asunder and torn in pieces of wild beasts.

13. Christ was greatly glorified in those who at first denied, and at last, beyond all expectation of the heathen, boldly confessed their faith. They severally were examined, to be set at liberty, but after confession they were coupled to the number of the martyrs. But they tarried without, which had no grain of faith, no feeling of the wedding garment, no sparkle of the fear of God, but rather through their wicked conversation, blasphemed the way of God as sons of perdition. All the others were coupled to the Christian congregatio ; and at the time of examination, Alexander, a Phrygian born, professing physic, having dwelt in France many years, a man well known for his great zeal to Godwards, and boldness of speech (for he was not without apostolic grace) stood hard by the tribunal seat, and nigh the examined persons, exhorting them to boldness of confession, by signs and tokens; so that by his sorrowing and sighing, by his hopping and skipping to and fro, he was descried of the standers by. And when the multitude round had taken in evil part, that they which before had recanted, again did confess, with one consent they cried out against Alexander as author thereof. And when the president had urged him, and demanded of him what he was, he answered, "I am a Christian"; for which answer the president allotted him unto the beasts, of them to be rent in pieces and devoured. The next day after, together with Attalus, he is brought forth, (for the president, to gratify the people, delivered him unto the beasts to be baited the second time). And when these had tasted of all the torments provided for them in the amphitheatre around, and suffered great pain, in the end they were put to death. Of which number Alexander not once sighed, neither uttered any kind of speech, but inwardly from the heart talked with God. Attalus, burning in the scalding iron chair, glowing hot, so that the savour of his broiled body filled their nostrils, said unto the multitude in the Roman tongue : "Behold this that you do is to devour men; but we neither devour men, nor commit any other heinous offence". And being demanded what name God had, he answered : "God is not called after the manner of men".

14. After all these things, upon the last day of the spectacles, Blandina, together with Ponticus, (a young man of fifteen years of age) was brought forth (which thing was daily used, to the end they might behold the torments of the rest) whom they compelled to swear by their idols names. But they constantly persevering in their opinion, and contemning their idols, set the multitude in such a rage against them, that they neither pitied the years of the young man, nor spared the womankind, but plagued them with all kinds of punishments used in their theatres, urging them now and then to swear; which when they could not bring to pass, Ponticus, being encouraged of the sister in presence of the pagans, who then beheld how she exhorted and confirmed the young man : after that he had suffered all kinds of bitter torments, yielded up the ghost. Last of all blessed Blandina, like a noble mother, having exhorted her children, and sent them before, as conquerors unto the king, pondering with herself all the punishments of her children, hastened after them, joying and triumphing at her end, as if she had been invited to a wedding dinner, and not to be cast among wild beasts. After scourging, after fighting with wild beasts, after the broiling of her body as it were in a frying-pan, at length she was wrapped in a net, and tumbled before a wild bull, which fanned and tossed her with his horns to and fro, yet had she no feeling of all these things, her mind being fixed and wholly set upon the conference which she had with Christ, and in the end she was beheaded, the pagans themselves pronouncing : "That never any woman was heard of among them to have suffered so many and so great torments".

15. Neither did their cruelty and rage against the Christians so cease. For the savage and barbarous Gentiles, being provoked by a furious and brutal fiend, could not quiet themselves, but that their furious rage practised another kind of malicious spite upon the dead carcases : neither were they pleased in that they were overcome, and void of natural feeling and sense, but proceeded further, like brute beasts, both president and people were furiously provoked, prosecuting us with like hatred, that the Scripture might be fulfilled which saith, "He that is wicked, let him be wicked still, and he that is just, let him work righteousness still". For as many as were choked up with the noisome stench of the prison were thrown to be devoured of dogs, and a continual watch set, day and night, that none of them should be buried of us. And gathering together the relics of the martyrs bodies, some undevoured of beasts, some unburned by fire, partly torn and partly burned, with the heads and stumps of others un covered with earth, they committed them for the space of many days unto the custody of soldiers. Others fretted and fumed, snarling at them, with the gnashing of their teeth, seeking further revenge upon them. Others derided and scoffed them, magnifying their idols as causers of this our calamity. And such as were of a milder nature, and some what sorrowed at our suffering, upbraided us, and said, "Where is their God, and what profited them this religion, which they preferred before their lives?". And such was the variable and devilish disposition of the infidels, to our great sorrow, because we were not permitted to bury the dead bodies of the martyrs. Neither stood the night unto us in any stead for that purpose, neither would money persuade the keepers, nor our prayers move them, but they kept the bruised carcases of the saints, as if some great commodity grew unto them by keeping them unburied.

16. To be short, after that the bodies of the blessed saints had been every kind of way spitefully and scornfully intreated, lying whole six days unburied, at length they were burned to ashes, the ashes also they gathered and scattered in the river Rhodanus, which passed by, so that no jot nor relic thereof should longer remain upon earth. This they did to the end that they might overcome God, and hinder the reviving of the saints; lest that (as they said) there should be any further hope of the resurrection, whereof (say they) the Christians being fully persuaded, bring amongst us a strange and new religion, they contemn punishment, and hasten themselves cheerfully unto death. "Now let us see whether they can arise, and whether their God can help and deliver them from our hands".

17. They were such followers of Christ (who when he was in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God) that being set in such glory they suffered torments, neither once, nor twice, but often and again, being taken from the beasts, having the print of hot irons and scars, and wounds in their bodies, neither called they themselves martyrs, nor permitted others so to term them : but if any of us so named them in our epistles, they sharply rebuked us; they attributed the name of martyrdom with full mind unto Christ, who was the faithful and true martyr, the first fruits of the dead, and the guide unto life. They called to mind their miserable torments which ended the race and course of this life with blessed martyrdom, saying, "They now are martyrs whom Christ vouchsafed to receive unto him by confession, and, through the passage of this persecuted life, to seal their martyrdom among the number of the blessed saints; but we are mean, and base, and humble confessors." They beseeched the brethren, with waterish eyes and wet cheeks, to pray in cessantly for their happy ends. They expressed lively the power of martyrdom, while they resisted the heathens with liberty and boldness, showing their noble courage through patience, their constancy without fear or trembling, and being called martyrs of the brethren, refused it with the fulness of the fear of God. . . . . They humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God, by the which they are now highly exalted; they rendered unto all men an account in the defence of their faith; they accused none, freed all, and bound no man; they prayed for their persecutors, after the example of Stephen, that perfect martyr, who said, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge". If he prayed for them that stoned him, how much more for the brethren? ... The greatest combat they had with him (meaning the serpent) was for the sincerity of love. So that the roaring lion being foiled before, now quickened and stirred up such as he thought to have had devoured. They showed no insolent arrogancy towards them that fell, but ministered unto such as wanted of their abundance, being affectioned with motherly pity and compassion towards them, and shedding many tears unto God the Father for their sakes, they craved life and he granted it them, which life they communicated to their neighbours : and so they passing as conquerors in all things, embracing peace, and showing the same unto us, departed this life with peace, and posted unto the heavenly and celestial paradise, leaving no grief behind them unto the mother, no sedition or war unto the brethren, but joy, and peace, and concord, and love ... There was among them one Alcibiades, who lived miserably, feeding only on bread and water. When he had determined with himself so to live in prison, it was revealed unto Attalus, after his first conflict on the theatre, that Alcibiades did not well, in that he used not the lawful creatures of God, and also gave an occasion of doubting unto others. Hereof when Alcibiades was persuaded, he used all things indifferently, and praised God. For they were not destitute of the grace of God, but had the Holy Ghost for their director.