noon
The priests of the temples heading the furious crowds , they hastened from the hill in every direction , assailing , as they reached them , the houses of the Christians , and dragging the wretched inhabitants to the presence of their barbarous judges . Although in the present edicts the people are not let loose as authorized murderers upon the Christians , they are nevertheless exhorted and required to inform against them and bring them before the proper tribunals on the charge of Christianity , so that there is lodged in their hands a fearful power to harrass and injure -- a power which is used as you may suppose Romans would use it . Every species of violence has this day been put in practice upon this innocent people ; their perpetrators feeling sure that , in the confusion , deeds at which even Varus or Aurelian might take offence will be overlooked . The tribunals have been thronged from noon till night with Christians and their accusers . As the examination of those who have been brought up has rarely occupied but a few moments , the evidence always being sufficiently full to prove them Christians , and , when that has been wanting , their own ready confession supplying the defect -- the prisons are already filling with their unhappy tenants , and extensive provisions are making to receive them in other buildings set apart for the time to this office . A needless provision . For it requires but little knowledge of Aurelian to know that his impatient temper will not long endure the tedious process of a regular accusation , trial , condemnation , and punishment .