This fifth method is to be found described in the Acts of Saints Jacob and Marianus, wherein the following narrative is written concerning Marianus, servant of Christ: “But Marianus he condemned to torture, because he confessed himself a reader only, as indeed he was. And what torments were these, how new and strange, how instinct with the poisoned ingenuity of the Devil, how cunningly contrived to break the spirit! Marianus was hung up to be tortured; and what grace the Martyr showed even in the midst of his sufferings, the very torment and punishment but exalting his courage! Now the cord which kept him suspended was attached not to his hands but to the tips of his thumbs, in such wise that the slenderness of those parts should add to the agony endured in supporting the weight of the rest of the body. Moreover unconscionable weights were further attached to the feet, so that the whole framework of the body should hang suspended, torn asunder by distracting pains and agonising convulsions of the inwards. “So far the Acts; whereby is plainly shown the truth of what we have stated concerning this fifth mode of punishment.
