Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman Martyrology. Ado and Usuardus. Authority: — The Acts in Ruinart, not, however, without gross interpolations. Mediaeval lovers of marvels, impatient of the simplicity of the genuine narrative, intruded into it additional tortures and some marvels, as that Bonosus and Maximilian felt no pain when scourged, nor were injured when immersed in boiling pitch or in quicklime. But it is easy to cut out the interpolations, and restore the Acts to their primitive form.] The Emperor Julian commanded that the Labarum, the cross and name of Christ, which Constantine had placed on the standards of the army, should be removed, and the Roman eagle, and the images of the gods be substituted for it. He had created Julian, his uncle by the mother’s side, an apostate from the faith like himself, Count of the East. Julian the Count proved less cautious than his nephew in his dealings with Christians. The Emperor did not persecute openly. The only Christians who suffered under him were soldiers, and they were sentenced on a charge of disobedience to military orders. But the martyrdoms were not many; those who suffered were chiefly soldiers under Count Julian. Among these were Bonosus and Maximilian, officers in the troop of the OldHerculeans. Julian ordered the standards to be delivered up, that the cross might be struck off, and images of Jove and Hercules be placed on them instead. These two officers sternly refused to deliver up the standards for this purpose. Julian ordered them to be scourged with leathern thongs, loaded with balls of lead. Bonosus smiled under the infliction of this degrading punishment; and when asked if he would give way, and surrender the standards, did not answer. Maximilian was next attached to the post, and his back bared for the lash. His bold defiance of the Count so exasperated him that Julian ordered Maximilian to be racked. Bonosus was slung up at the same time.

As they were hanging, Julian addressed them once more, still on the subject of the standards. “ We will hive nothing to do with your standards headed with idols,” said the intrepid martyrs. They were ordered off to prison. After having been left a long time without food, Julian sent them bread on which he had impressed his seal, probably representing a false god. Some days after the martyrs were brought before him again. They had not touched the bread. Then Julian ordered the heroic soldiers to be led forth outside the city and executed with the sword. Miletius, Bishop of Antioch, and many hundreds of Christians looked on, and witnessed their glorious confession. The Acts conclude with a ludicrous scene between Julian and his Christian wife. Some worms come out of his mouth. In a scared condition he entreats her to go to the church and pray that she may not become a widow. She declines, thinking she would be better off if he were dead. He is left by her uncharitable zeal to expire in agonies. All this nonsense is an addition of a mediaeval scribe.