Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/414

402 402 CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA, ETC. Jesus Christ is the true Son of God and the Saviour of the world. I pronounce anathema on the impostor Mahomet! anathema on the false prophet!" At these words he tore and cast away the beautiful scarlet robe, and appeared before the astonished spectators, in the humble habit of a Minorite brother. " I am a Chris- tian," said he, " and ready to die for Jesus Christ." This bold and unexpected proceeding threw the Mus- sulmans into a fury ; they flung themselves upon him, tore him from the tribune, and would have massacred him on the spot, if the Kadi had not interposed his authority, and made them understand the necessity of sparing him to undergo the punishment awarded to him by law, — namely, that of being burned to death. The Franciscan was then conducted, with his hands tied, before the judge; and when, after they had tor- mented him the whole day, they found he remained constant in the Christian faith, he was given over to the executioner. He was then scourged with leathern bags filled with lead and sand, until he fell down half dead ; and he was afterwards suspended by one foot and one hand, with heavy weights attached to the opposite limbs, and left the whole night in this torturing attitude. He was found still alive in the morning, however : perhaps God granted him a more than moderate share of strength to bear these torments in order that he might by his suf- ferings expiate his atrocious apostacy, and repair the mischief of the immense scandal he had occasioned. For six whole days was Stephen tortured, without its seeming possible for his enemies to put an end to his life ; until at length the Mahometans, enraged to see the intrepid Franciscan still surviving all the inventions of their barbarity, rushed on him with hatchets and other