Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/547

Rh When Felix the Bishop had come thither, and had presented himself before the Prefect, he ordered that he should be taken to prison, and bound with greater chains.

But after twelve days, the Prefect of the Guard ordered him to be put on ship-board, to sail after the Emperors.

So the Bishop went on board the ship very heavily laden with chains, and was in the hold of the ship four days and four nights, under the horses' feet, having no bread to eat, nor a drop of water to drink. And in this famishing state he came to Nola.

Then the Chief Judge of that city, as soon as the Bishop came, ordered him to be brought into his presence loaded as he was with very heavy chains.

And the Judge said to him,—"Felix, how camest thou hither?"

The Bishop answered,—"As it pleased ."

Then said the Judge,—"If in thy own city, or at Carthage, thou wouldst have given up your divine scriptures, thou wouldst not have come all this way to me."

To whom the Bishop replied,—"I have, I confess, the divine Scriptures; but as thou art not ignorant of the answer I have returned to others who have questioned me, so now to thyself I make known with all possible assurance, that I shall on no account whatever give them up."

The Judge answered,—"If thou dost not give up your sacred Scriptures, thou wilt forfeit thy life."

The Bishop replied,—"I am more ready to forfeit my life than to give up the books into sacrilegious hands."

Then the Judge bethought himself to have the Emperors' decrees recited. And when they had been read by Vincentius, the Secretary, the Judge said:—"Since this man hath remained so long in the same confession, according to the decree, I give sentence, that this same Bishop, Felix, shall be beheaded with the sword."

Upon this, the Bishop raised his eyes to Heaven, and said, "O, I thank Thee. Thou who hast graciously enabled me to remain faithful to Thee in this world, during six and fifty