104-117. Persecution under Trajan. Martyrdom of St. Ignatius. 117-161. Time of peace. Apologies of Aristides, Quadratus, and Justin Martyr. 161-180. Persecution under Marcus Aurelius. Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, and the martyrs of Lyons. 180-200. Time of peace. 200-211. Persecution under Severus. Martyrdom of St. Perpetua and others in Africa. 211-250. Time of peace, excepting-- 235-237. Partial persecution under Maximinus. 250-253. Persecution under Decius. Martyrdom of St. Fabian. 253-257 Time of peace. Disputes concerning the _lapsed_. 257-260. Persecution under Valerian. Martyrdom of St. Cyprian. 260-303. Time of peace, excepting-- 262. Persecution in the East under Macrianus. 275. Persecution threatened by Aurelian. 303-313. Persecution under Dioclesian, Galerius, and Maximinus. {61} Section 3. _Nature and Extent of Persecutions._ [Sidenote: Terrors of persecution.] Words can hardly be found strong enough to express the many and varied tortures which were inflicted on the Christians of the Primitive Church by their heathen countrymen. Death itself seemed too slight a punishment in the eyes of these cruel persecutors, unless it was preceded and accompanied by the most painful and trying circumstances. It was by crucifixion, and devouring beasts, and lingering fiery torments that the great multitude of those early martyrs received their crown. Racked and scorched, lacerated and torn limb from limb, agonized in body, mocked at and insulted, they were objects of pity even to the heathen themselves. Persecuting malice spared neither sex nor age, station nor character; the old man and the tender child, the patrician and the slave, the bishop and his flock, all shed their blood for Him Who had died for them, rather than deny their Lord. We have no possible means of estimating the number of this vast "cloud of witnesses," but authentic accounts have come down to us which prove that some places were almost depopulated by the multitude of martyrdoms; and when we remember the length of time over which the persecutions extended, the blood-thirsty rage of the persecutors, and the firm perseverance with which the immensely large majority of Christians kept the Faith to the end, we may form some idea as to the "multitude" of this noble army of martyrs "which no man could number." [Sidenote: Persecution did not check the growth of the Church,]