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

The fifth Persecution.

After the death of Commodus reigned Pertinax ¹but few months: after whom succeeded Severus, ²under whom was raised the fifth persecution. He reigned 18. years, and in the first ten was very favourable, afterward through false accusations and suggestions, he caused to be proclaimed, that no Christian should be suffered: whereupon an infinite number were slain, this was about the year 205. §205the crimes objected, were rebellion against the Emperor, Sacrilege, murdering of Infants, incestuous pollutions, eating raw flesh, libidinous commixture, worshipping the head of an ass: which is thought to have been raised by the Jews, also for worshipping of the Sun: which rose because either they used daily to sing unto the Lord, or because they used ⟨p. 19⟩to pray toward the East. But the special matter against them was, that they would not worship Idols. The Presidents and chief under the Emperor of this persecution were, Hilarius, ³Vigellius, Claudius, Hermianus, ruler of Cappadocia. Celicius, Capella, Vespronius, Demetrius mentioned of Cyprian, and Aquila Judge of Alexandria. The places where these persecutions raged were Africa, Alexandria, Cappadocia, and Carthage. The number infinite: of which the first was Leonides, ⁴the father of Origen, who although he were but of the age of seventeen years, greatly desired to have suffered with his father, had not his mother privily in the night stolen away his garments and his shirt, and so for shame he was constrained to tarry at home: yet he wrote to his father, Take heed to your self that you turn not your thought and purpose for our sakes