forty-nine martyrs was Yettins Epagathus, who, before he had been arrested or accused as a Christian, publicly remonstrated against the injustice of condemning them without evidence; and undertook to prove that they were innocent of any crime. He was placed amongst the confessors, and it is probable that as a Roman citizen he was one of those eventually beheaded, like Attains, who, after being led into the amphitheatre to fight with beasts for the amusement of the populace, was remanded to prison for a time and suffered the more dignified penalty. Sanctus a deacon, and Maturus a neophyte, were killed by being roasted in hot iron chairs. The aged Bishop Photinus was one of several who died of the poisonous atmosphere of the prison, before any torture was inflicted on them. Ten of the accused apostatized; among them St. Biblias. They were imprisoned with the rest, and treated with greater contempt on account of their cowardice. It happened that some of the Christians had heathen slaves who were arrested with them, and these, in their terror of being identified with the proscribed sect, accused them of the most horrible crimes. Meantime the confessors would not allow any one to call them martyrs. By their intercession and example, they reclaimed many of the apostates. After some delay, while the Emperor's decision was awaited, these were re-examined, and were offered their liberty, on condition that they should positively renounce their religion, but, with the exception of those who had never been Christians at heart, and had led wicked lives, they only desired the privilege of suffering with their brethren, who now received them with open arms.
Blandina was a slave, of such a delicate constitution and so little courage that her mistress, who was among the martyrs, feared she would be wearied or terrified into apostasy. The executioners relieved each other in torturing her, from dawn until sunset, in order to induce her to accuse her mistress and the other Christians, as the heathen slaves had done. But she said, "I am a Christian; crimes are not tolerated among us." After many kinds of torture had been tried upon her, she was bound to a stake to be devoured by the wild beasts that were driven into the arena. Hanging thus, as if on a cross, and praying earnestly, she greatly encouraged the other confessors, who saw in their sister an image of Him who was crucified for them. As none of the beasts would touch her, she was taken back to the prison. On the last day of the gladiatorial games, she and Ponticus, a lad of fifteen, who seems to have been her brother, after they had witnessed the death of all their companions, were commanded to swear by the idols. Ponticus, encouraged by Blandina, refused, and was at once put to death. Blandina was scourged, torn by beasts, and made to sit in the burning chair, after which she was enveloped in a net and thrown down before a wild cow, which tossed her about and tore her limb from limb. The pagans admitted that none of their women could have endured such torments so bravely. The bodies of the saints were given to be eaten by dogs, and soldiers watched day and night to prevent any of them from being buried by their friends. Some tried in vain to bribe the guards to give up the bodies, but all that remained of the martyrs was burned and the ashes thrown into the Rhone. It was presumed that this would destroy the hope of their resurrection. The names of the martyrs who suffered at the same time as Blandina are judged to have been taken from the original account. Twelve men and twelve women were beheaded as Boman citizens. The women were SS. Albina, Biblias or BibLis, Elpis who is also called Amnea or Amnia, Emilia, Grata or Agrata, Julia, Matebna, Pompeia, Postumiana or Potamia, Marta, Rhodana, Rogata. Nine men and nine women died in prison ; the latter were SS. Alumna or Domna, Antonla, Ausoni, Emilia, Jamnica or Gamnite, Julia, Justa, Pompeia, and Trophima. Blandina was the only woman who was thrown to the beasts. Some of the Christians were brought from Vienne to Lyons to be tried and executed with their brethren there; but they are generally all called "The
