An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the ChurchAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church

Maximinus in the East churches used great cruelty, and had executioners of the same, Pentius, Quintianus & Theotechnus, besides other: but his rage was stayed by the hand of God, who sent him such a botch,¹ that it putrefied and eat his entrails, from whence swarmed an innumerable multitude of lice: whereupon he caused persecution to cease, and required the Christians to pray for him, and published edicts of peace unto them throughout all his Empire. Whereat one Maxentius was not pleased to have such edicts published, where he had to do, in Asia, & other provinces. But Sabinus, who had among them the chief office, wrote the Emperors pleasure to the substitutes of every country, whereupon grew a marvellous sudden alteration in the Church. But scarce suffered Maximinus the tyrant the same six months unviolated, but set out contrary edicts, & caused them to be engraved in brass, and hanged in every city. So that persecution rose again as great as before. At Emysa in Phoenicia they condemned three christians, with whom Silvanus ²the bishop, a very old man, being 40. years in ecclesiastical function, was condemned to death. In Nicomedia Lucianus the Elder of Antioch, after he had given his Apology to the Emperor, was put to death. In Amasia a city of Cappadocia, Brings the lieutenant of Maximinus, had the executing of that persecution.

Maximinus in the East churches vsed great crueltie, and had executioners of the same, Pentius, Quintianus & Theotechnus, besides other: but his rage was stayed by the hand of God, who sent him such a botch,¹ that it putrified and eate his entrailes, from whence swarmed an innumerable multitude of lyce: wherevpon he caused persecution to cease, and required the Christians to pray for him, and published edicts of peace vnto them throughout all his Empyre. Wherat one Maxentius was not pleased to haue such edicts published, where he had to doo, in Asia, & other prouinces. But Sabinus, who had among them the chief office, wrote the Emperours pleasure to the substitutes of euery country, whervpon grew a maruellous sudden alteration in the Church. But scarse suffered Maximinus the tyrant the same six moneths vnuiolated, but set out contrary edicts, & caused them to be engraued in brasse, and hanged in euery citie. So that persecution rose againe as great as before. At Emysa in Phenicia they condemned thrée christians, with whom Syluanus