SS. ADRIAN AND NATALIE
Adrian suffered death under Maximian, emperor. For when the said Maximian was in the city of Nicodemia, whereas he sacrificed to the idols, and by his commandment they sought all christian men; some sought them for dread, and some for love, and some for promise of silver, so that neighbour brought his neighbour to martyrdom, and cousin his cousin. Among whom three and thirty were taken of them that they sought, and brought tofore the king. And the king said to them: 'Have ye not heard what pain is ordained against the christian men?' And they said to him: 'We have heard the commandment of thy folly.' Then the king was angry and commanded that they should be beaten with raw sinews and their mouths beaten with stones, and that each of their tongues should be pierced with iron, and that they should be bound and closed in prison. And then Adrian, which was first in the office of knighthood, said to them: 'I conjure you by your God that ye tell to me the reward that ye entend to have for these torments.' And the holy man said that never eye saw, nor ear heard, ne heart of man might think, those things that our Lord maketh ready for them that love him perfectly. And Adrian leapt in the middle among them and said: 'Account ye me with them here, for I am a christian man.'
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