Of the Originator and the Cause of This Persecution

The author of the Introduction to the Martyrs Mirror writes about this as follows: "In the year 259 the eighth persecution against the Christians arose under the Emperor Valerian. He issued an edict against the Christians, in which he commanded that the Christians were not to assemble; and since this was not obeyed, a great persecution arose everywhere." Folio 41, column 1.