About Forty Pious Christians Seized by the Longobards in Italy, in the Year 566

Shortly after the death of the peasants just spoken of in the margin, while the heathen Longobards, according to their custom, were offering to Satan the head of a he-goat, about forty meek and pious Christians were seized. When their captors, in honor of Satan, had gone around their sacrifice, consecrated it with their sorcerous incantations and conjurations, and had bowed their heads before it and worshiped it, they wanted to force the captive Christians to worship this head of the he-goat with them. But most of the Christians, choosing rather to die and strive for immortal life than to live and worship the idol, refused to bow their heads, which they had always bowed in honor to God their Creator, before a vain and perishable creature. Then the enemies of God and His Anointed, who had not hesitated to fight against the Lord and to kick against the goads, put to death with the sword all of these captive Christians who would have no fellowship with their idolatry; and so they (the latter) all became blessed martyrs of Jesus Christ. Compare A. Mell., 2nd book, 1699, page 299, column 4, from book 5 Dialog., chapter 28.** [n312-1]