My LORD’s BiblePassion of the Scillitan Martyrs 1
An official-style record of the trial at Carthage, on 17 July AD 180, of a group of Christians from Scilli before the proconsul Saturninus, ending in their execution by the sword. Among the oldest dated documents of Latin Christianity and of North African Christianity; asked what was in their chest, Speratus answered: "Books and epistles of Paul, a just man."
1When Præsens, for the second time, and Claudianus were the consuls, on the seventeenth day of July, at Carthage, there were set in the judgment-hall Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Donata, Secunda and Vestia.
2Saturninus the proconsul said: You can win the indulgence of our lord the Emperor, if you return to a sound mind.
3Speratus said: We have never done ill, we have not lent ourselves to wrong, we have never spoken ill, but when ill-treated we have given thanks; because we pay heed to our Emperor.
4Saturninus the proconsul said: We too are religious, and our religion is simple, and we swear by the genius of our lord the Emperor, and pray for his welfare, as you also ought to do.
5Speratus said: If you will peaceably lend me your ears, I can tell you the mystery of simplicity.
6Saturninus said: I will not lend mine ears to you, when you begin to speak evil things of our sacred rites; but rather swear by the genius of our lord the Emperor.
8Saturninus the proconsul said to the rest: Cease to be of this persuasion.
10Saturninus the proconsul said: Be not partakers of this folly.
11Cittinus said: We have none other to fear, save only our Lord God, who is in heaven.
12Donata said: Honour to Cæsar as Cæsar: but fear to God.
13Vestia said: I am a Christian.
14Secunda said: What I am, that I wish to be.
15Saturninus the proconsul said to Speratus: Do you persist in being a Christian?
16Speratus said: I am a Christian. And with him they all agreed.
17Saturninus the proconsul said: Will you have a space to consider?
18Speratus said: In a matter so straightforward there is no considering.
19Saturninus the proconsul said: What are the things in your chest?
21Saturninus the proconsul said: Have a delay of thirty days and bethink yourselves.
22Speratus said a second time: I am a Christian. And with him they all agreed.
23Saturninus the proconsul read out the decree from the tablet: Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Donata, Vestia, Secunda and the rest having confessed that they live according to the Christian rite, since after opportunity offered them of returning to the custom of the Romans they have obstinately persisted, it is determined that they be put to the sword.
24Speratus said: We give thanks to God.
25Nartzalus said: Today we are martyrs in heaven; thanks be to God.
26Saturninus the proconsul ordered it to be declared by the herald: Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Veturius, Felix, Aquilinus, Lætantius, Januaria, Generosa, Vestia, Donata and Secunda, I have ordered to be executed.
27They all said: Thanks be to God.