The Bloody Theatre, or Martyrs Mirror of the Defenseless Christians: who baptized only upon confession of faith, and who suffered and died for the testimony of Jesus, their savior, from the time of Christ to the year A.D. 1660Braght, Thieleman J. van (Thieleman Janszoon)
History
The Bloody Theatre, or Martyrs Mirror of the Defenseless Christians: who baptized only upon confession of faith, and who suffered and died for the testimony of Jesus, their savior, from the time of Christ to the year A.D. 1660
Braght, Thieleman J. van (Thieleman Janszoon)
Anabaptists -- Europe -- Biography; Christian martyrs -- Biography; Persecution
Numerius Maximus, Proconsul of Cilicia, summoning Terentian, the
provider of public sacrifices and theatrical performances which were
held in Cilicia, commanded him to provide for the dramas for the next
day. The following day a great number of men and women assembled in
the amphitheatre, which was situated about a mile, or one thousand
paces from the city. When the amphitheatre was filled with people,
Maximus also came to witness the play, and in the first act of it,
when many wild beasts were let out at the same time, many human bodies
were devoured. We Christians kept ourselves concealed and waited
with great fear for the bringing forth of the martyrs. Suddenly the
Proconsul commanded the soldiers to bring in the Christian martyrs,
namely, Tharacus, Probus, and Andronicus. The soldiers compelled some
to carry the Christian martyrs on their shoulders, for they were torn
and lacerated to such a degree, that they could not walk. We then saw
them carried thus disfigured into the amphitheatre, and seeing how
they had been maltreated, we turned our faces, and cried bitterly.
Thus the martyrs were thrown down into the middle of the arena, as the
offscouring or refuse of this world; and when the multitude beheld
them, they were all frightened, and the people murmured greatly against
Maximus for having thus tormented them, and then yet sentencing them
to be thrown to the beasts; yea, many went away from the amphitheatre,
censuring Maximus for his inhuman cruelty. When Maximus saw this, he
commanded the soldiers who stood near him, to note those who murmured
against him, and were leaving; so that he might afterwards examine them
in regard to it. In the meanwhile he commanded that the wild beasts
should be let out, to rend the martyrs. In _Scriptura Christianorum
Fratrum_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account