with another bishop named Stalbrand, and a great
number of others: the Aberdeen Breviary says six thousand six hundred.
This massacre happened in the reign of Constantine II., in the year 874.
A great monastery was built of polished stone in honor of St. Adrian, in
the isle of May, the church of which, enriched with his relics, was a
place of great devotion. See bishop Lesley, Hist. l. 5. Breviar.
Aberdon. and Chronica Skonensia.

{510}

SS. ADRIAN. AND EUBULUS, OF PALESTINE.

MARTYRS.

From Eusebius's History of the Martyrs of Palestine, c. 11, p. 341.

A.D. 309.

IN the seventh year of Dioclesian's persecution, continued by Galerius
Maximianus, when Firmilian, the most bloody governor of Palestine, had
stained Caesarea with the blood of many illustrious martyrs, Adrian and
Eubulus came out of the country called Magantia to Caesarea, in order to
visit the holy confessors there. At the gates of the city they were
asked, as others were, whither they were going, and upon what errand.
They ingenuously confessed the truth, and were brought before the
president, who ordered them to be tortured, and their sides to be torn
with iron hooks, and then condemned them to be exposed to wild beasts.
Two days after, when the pagans at Caesarea celebrated the festival of
the public Genius, Adrian was exposed to a lion, and not being
dispatched by that beast, but only mangled, was at length killed by the
sword. Eubulus was treated in the same manner, two days later. The judge
offered him his liberty if he would sacrifice to idols; but the saint
preferred a glorious death, and was the last that suffered in this
persecution at Caesarea, which had now continued twelve years under three
successive governors, Flavian, Urban, and Firmilian. Divine vengeance
pursuing the cruel Firmilian, he was that same year beheaded for his
crimes, by the emperor's order, as his predecessor Urban had been two
years before.

* * * * *

It is in vain that we take the name of Christians, or pretend to follow
Christ, unless we carry our crosses after him. It is in vain that we
hope to share in his glory, and in his kingdom, if we accept not the
condition.[1] We cannot arrive at heaven by any other road but that
which Christ held, who bequeathed his cross to all his elect as their
portion and inheritance in this world. None can be exempted from this
rule, without renouncing his title to heaven. Let us sound our own
heart